How to pronounce cowboy
Say it like KOW-boy. Cowboy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cowboy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KOW
- boy
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cowboy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- boyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of cowboy
American and British speakers say cowboy in essentially the same way: /ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ/ in the US and /ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: KOW-boy.
What does cowboy mean?
- a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback
- a performer who gives exhibitions of riding and roping and bulldogging
- someone who is reckless or irresponsible (especially in driving vehicles)
Where does cowboy come from?
From cow + boy. More on Wikipedia.
Questions about saying cowboy
How do you pronounce cowboy?
Say KOW-boy. The American pronunciation is /ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ/. In British English it is /ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cowboy?
Cowboy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KOW). Broken into parts: KOW · boy.
Do Americans and Brits say cowboy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ/ and the British form is /ˈkaʊˌbɔɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.