How to pronounce Borneo
Say it like BOR-nee-oh. Borneo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOR).
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Borneo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/ˈbɔrniˌoʊ/BOR-nee-oh
UK British/ˈbɔːniəʊ/BAW-nee-oh
- BOR
- nee
- oh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Borneo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- neeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- ohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of Borneo
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BAW-nee-oh.
What does Borneo mean?
proper noun
- A Pacific island shared by Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia; the world’s third largest island.
Questions about saying Borneo
How do you pronounce Borneo?
Say BOR-nee-oh. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɔrniˌoʊ/. In British English it is /ˈbɔːniəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Borneo?
Borneo has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOR). Broken into parts: BOR · nee · oh.
Is Borneo pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbɔːniəʊ/ (BAW-nee-oh).