How to pronounce Boston
Say it like BOS-tun. Boston has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Boston. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOS
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Boston 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.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Boston
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: BOS-tun.
Other ways to say Boston
Boston also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- BAW-stun /ˈbɔstən/
What does Boston mean?
- state capital and largest city of Massachusetts; a major center for banking and financial services
Questions about saying Boston
How do you pronounce Boston?
Say BOS-tun. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɑstən/. In British English it is /ˈbɒstən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Boston?
Boston has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOS). Broken into parts: BOS · tun.
Is Boston 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 /ˈbɒstən/ (BOS-tun).