How to pronounce buoy
Say it like BOO-ee. Buoy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce buoy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOO
- ee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Buoy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of buoy
- American English uses 2 syllables and British English 1.
British respelling: BOY.
What does buoy mean?
- A float moored in water to mark a location, warn of danger, indicate a navigational channel or for other purposes
- A lifebuoy; a life preserver.
- A sign where the non-dominant hand is held in a stationary configuration as a landmark for meaning associations with the dominant hand.“list buoy”
- To keep afloat or aloft; used with up.
- To support or maintain at a high level.
- To mark with a buoy.“to buoy an anchor; to buoy or buoy off a channel”
Where does buoy come from?
Noun sense 2 was coined by American linguist Scott K.
Words that rhyme with buoy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of buoy.
Questions about saying buoy
How do you pronounce buoy?
Say BOO-ee. The American pronunciation is /ˈbui/. In British English it is /bɔɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in buoy?
Buoy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOO). Broken into parts: BOO · ee.
Is buoy pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 2 syllables and British English 1. The British form is /bɔɪ/ (BOY).