How to pronounce bottleneck
Say it like BOT-ul-nek. Bottleneck has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bottleneck. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOT
- ul
- nek
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bottleneck pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nekGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of bottleneck
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: BOT-ul-nek.
What does bottleneck mean?
- The narrow portion that forms the pouring spout of a bottle; the neck of a bottle.
- A portion of a bottleneck placed on the finger and used as a guitar slide.
- In traffic, any narrowing of the road, especially resulting in a delay.
- To slow by causing a bottleneck.“The merge bottlenecked the traffic every morning.”
- To form a bottleneck.“The traffic bottlenecked at the merge every morning.”
Where does bottleneck come from?
From bottle + neck.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying bottleneck
How do you pronounce bottleneck?
Say BOT-ul-nek. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɑtəlˌnɛk/. In British English it is /ˈbɒtəlˌnɛk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bottleneck?
Bottleneck has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOT). Broken into parts: BOT · ul · nek.
Is bottleneck 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 /ˈbɒtəlˌnɛk/ (BOT-ul-nek).