How to pronounce eyeball
Say it like EYE-bawl. Eyeball has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EYE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce eyeball. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EYE
- bawl
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Eyeball pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EYESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- bawlGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of eyeball
American and British speakers say eyeball in essentially the same way: /ˈaɪˌbɔl/ in the US and /ˈaɪbɔːl/ in the UK.
British respelling: EYE-bawl.
What does eyeball mean?
- The ball of the eye.“You'll change your mind about not bothering with safety glasses once you've injured your eyeball. That's called closing the barn door after the horse gets out.”
- An instance of eyeballing something.“Give this report an eyeball, will you please?”
- Surveillance.
- To gauge, estimate or judge by eye, rather than measuring precisely; to look or glance at.“A good cook can often just eyeball the correct quantities of ingredients.”
- To stare at intently.“Are you eyeballing my girl?”
- To roll one's eyes.
Where does eyeball come from?
From eye + ball. Compare Middle English balle off the eye, balle of þe eyȝe (“eyeball”, literally “ball of the eye”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying eyeball
How do you pronounce eyeball?
Say EYE-bawl. The American pronunciation is /ˈaɪˌbɔl/. In British English it is /ˈaɪbɔːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in eyeball?
Eyeball has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EYE). Broken into parts: EYE · bawl.
Do Americans and Brits say eyeball the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈaɪˌbɔl/ and the British form is /ˈaɪbɔːl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.