How to pronounce bowling
Say it like BOH-ling. Bowling has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bowling. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOH
- ling
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bowling pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- lingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of bowling
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BOH-ling.
What does bowling mean?
- a game in which balls are rolled at an object or group of objects with the aim of knocking them over or moving them
- (cricket) the act of delivering a cricket ball to the batsman
- the playing of a game of tenpins or duckpins etc
Words that rhyme with bowling
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bowling.
Questions about saying bowling
How do you pronounce bowling?
Say BOH-ling. The American pronunciation is /ˈboʊlɪŋ/. In British English it is /ˈbəʊlɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bowling?
Bowling has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOH). Broken into parts: BOH · ling.
Is bowling pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈbəʊlɪŋ/ (BOH-ling).