How to pronounce bulk
Say it like BUHLK. Bulk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bulk. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BUHLK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bulk pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BUHLKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of bulk
American and British speakers say bulk in essentially the same way: /bʌlk/ in the US and /bʌlk/ in the UK.
British respelling: BUHLK.
What does bulk mean?
- the property resulting from being or relating to the greater in number of two parts; the main part“the majority of his customers prefer it”“the bulk of the work is finished”
- the property of something that is great in magnitude“it is cheaper to buy it in bulk”“he received a mass of correspondence”
- the property possessed by a large mass
- stick out or up“The parcel bulked in the sack”
- cause to bulge or swell outwards
Where does bulk come from?
Conflated with Middle English bouk (“belly, trunk”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with bulk
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bulk.
Questions about saying bulk
How do you pronounce bulk?
Say BUHLK. The American pronunciation is /bʌlk/. In British English it is /bʌlk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bulk?
Bulk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BUHLK.
Do Americans and Brits say bulk the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bʌlk/ and the British form is /bʌlk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.