How to pronounce bus
Say it like BUHS. Bus is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- BUHS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bus pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BUHSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of bus
American and British speakers say bus in essentially the same way: /bʌs/ in the US and /bʌs/ in the UK.
British respelling: BUHS.
What does bus mean?
- A motor vehicle for transporting large numbers of people along roads.“I'm on the bus.”
- A coach, a bus used for long travels.
- Any motorized vehicle, such as a motorbike or car.
- To transport via a motor bus.
- To transport students to school, often to a more distant school for the purposes of achieving racial integration.
- To travel by bus.
- To clear meal remains from.“He bussed tables as the restaurant emptied out.”
- To work at clearing the remains of meals from tables or counters; to work as a busboy.“He’s been bussing for minimum wage.”
Where does bus come from?
Clipping of omnibus. Superseded earlier 'bus, where the apostrophe indicated a clipping.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with bus
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bus.
Words that sound like bus
Questions about saying bus
How do you pronounce bus?
Say BUHS. The American pronunciation is /bʌs/. In British English it is /bʌs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bus?
Bus is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BUHS.
Do Americans and Brits say bus the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bʌs/ and the British form is /bʌs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as bus?
Bus sounds the same as buss in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.