How to pronounce borough
Say it like BUR-roh. Borough has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUR).
- BUR
- roh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Americans say 'BUR-oh'; Britons say 'BUH-ruh'.
Borough pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BURSay this part loudest and longest.
- rohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of borough
American and British speakers say borough in essentially the same way: /ˈbɜˌroʊ/ in the US and /ˈbʌrə/ in the UK.
British respelling: BUHR-uh.
What does borough mean?
- A town having a municipal corporation and certain traditional rights.
- An administrative district in some cities, e.g., London.
- An administrative unit of a city which, under most circumstances according to state or national law, would be considered a larger or more powerful entity.
Where does borough come from?
Cognate with Dutch burcht, German Burg, Danish borg, Swedish borg, French bourg, Turkish burç.
Words that rhyme with borough
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of borough.
Words that sound like borough
Questions about saying borough
How do you pronounce borough?
Say BUR-roh. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɜˌroʊ/. In British English it is /ˈbʌrə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in borough?
Borough has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUR). Broken into parts: BUR · roh.
Do Americans and Brits say borough the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbɜˌroʊ/ and the British form is /ˈbʌrə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as borough?
Borough sounds the same as boro, burrow in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.