How to pronounce boyfriend
Say it like BOY-frend. Boyfriend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce boyfriend. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOY
- frend
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Boyfriend pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
- frendGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of boyfriend
American and British speakers say boyfriend in essentially the same way: /ˈbɔɪˌfrɛnd/ in the US and /ˈbɔɪˌfrɛnd/ in the UK.
British respelling: BOY-frend.
What does boyfriend mean?
- a man who is the lover of a man or woman“if I'd known he was her boyfriend I wouldn't have asked”“When the law changed, Pet could finally married his long-time boyfriend Jim”
Where does boyfriend come from?
From boy + friend.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying boyfriend
How do you pronounce boyfriend?
Say BOY-frend. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɔɪˌfrɛnd/. In British English it is /ˈbɔɪˌfrɛnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in boyfriend?
Boyfriend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOY). Broken into parts: BOY · frend.
Do Americans and Brits say boyfriend the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbɔɪˌfrɛnd/ and the British form is /ˈbɔɪˌfrɛnd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.