How to pronounce bulkhead
Say it like BUHLK-hed. Bulkhead has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHLK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bulkhead. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BUHLK
- hed
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bulkhead 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.
- hedGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of bulkhead
American and British speakers say bulkhead in essentially the same way: /ˈbʌlkˌhɛd/ in the US and /ˈbʌlkˌhɛd/ in the UK.
British respelling: BUHLK-hed.
What does bulkhead mean?
- A vertical partition dividing the hull into separate compartments; often made watertight to prevent excessive flooding if the ship's hull is breached.
- A similar partition in an aircraft or spacecraft, or some rail vehicles.
- A partition or panel through which connectors pass, or a connector designed to pass through a partition.
Where does bulkhead come from?
From Old Norse bálkr (“partition”) + head, anglicised as bulk + head.
Questions about saying bulkhead
How do you pronounce bulkhead?
Say BUHLK-hed. The American pronunciation is /ˈbʌlkˌhɛd/. In British English it is /ˈbʌlkˌhɛd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bulkhead?
Bulkhead has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BUHLK). Broken into parts: BUHLK · hed.
Do Americans and Brits say bulkhead the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbʌlkˌhɛd/ and the British form is /ˈbʌlkˌhɛd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.