How to pronounce breakdown
Say it like BRAYK-down. Breakdown has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRAYK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce breakdown. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BRAYK
- down
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Breakdown pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BRAYKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- downGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of breakdown
American and British speakers say breakdown in essentially the same way: /ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn/ in the US and /ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn/ in the UK.
British respelling: BRAYK-down.
What does breakdown mean?
- the act of disrupting an established order so it fails to continue“the social dislocations resulting from government policies”“his warning came after the breakdown of talks in London”
- a mental or physical breakdown
- (biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action
Where does breakdown come from?
Deverbal from break down.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with breakdown
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of breakdown.
Questions about saying breakdown
How do you pronounce breakdown?
Say BRAYK-down. The American pronunciation is /ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn/. In British English it is /ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in breakdown?
Breakdown has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRAYK). Broken into parts: BRAYK · down.
Do Americans and Brits say breakdown the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn/ and the British form is /ˈbreɪkˌdaʊn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.