How to pronounce boss
Say it like BOS. Boss is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce boss. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Boss pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of boss
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: BOS.
Other ways to say boss
Boss also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- BAWS /bɔs/
What does boss mean?
- a person who exercises control over workers“if you want to leave early you have to ask the foreman”
- a person responsible for hiring workers“the boss hired three more men for the new job”
- a person who exercises control and makes decisions“he is his own boss now”
- raise in a relief“embossed stationery”
- exceptionally good“a boss hand at carpentry”“his brag cornfield”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with boss
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of boss.
Questions about saying boss
How do you pronounce boss?
Say BOS. The American pronunciation is /bɑs/. In British English it is /bɒs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in boss?
Boss is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BOS.
Is boss pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /bɒs/ (BOS).