How to pronounce boundary
Say it like BOWN-duh-ree. Boundary has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOWN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce boundary. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOWN
- duh
- ree
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Boundary pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOWNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- duhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of boundary
American and British speakers say boundary in essentially the same way: /ˈbaʊndəri/ in the US and /ˈbaʊndəri/ in the UK.
British respelling: BOWN-duh-ree.
What does boundary mean?
- the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something
- a line determining the limits of an area
- the greatest possible degree of something“what he did was beyond the bounds of acceptable behavior”“to the limit of his ability”
Where does boundary come from?
From bound + -ary. Semantically displaced native Old English mearc (“boundary, limit”) whence Modern English mark.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying boundary
How do you pronounce boundary?
Say BOWN-duh-ree. The American pronunciation is /ˈbaʊndəri/. In British English it is /ˈbaʊndəri/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in boundary?
Boundary has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOWN). Broken into parts: BOWN · duh · ree.
Do Americans and Brits say boundary the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbaʊndəri/ and the British form is /ˈbaʊndəri/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.