How to pronounce float
Say it like FLOHT. Float is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- FLOHT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Float pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FLOHTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of float
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: FLOHT.
What does float mean?
- To be supported by a fluid of greater density (than the object).“Helium balloons float in air, while air-filled balloons don't.”
- To be supported by a liquid of greater density, such that part (of the object or substance) remains above the surface.“The boat floated on the water.”
- To cause something to be suspended in a fluid of greater density.“to float a boat”
- A buoyant device used to support something in water or another liquid.“Attach the float and the weight to the fishing line, above the hook.”
- A mass of timber or boards fastened together, and conveyed down a stream by the current; a raft.
- A float board.
Where does float come from?
From Middle English floten, from Old English flotian (“to float”), from Proto-West Germanic *flotōn, from Proto-Germanic *flutōną (“to float”), from Proto-Indo-European *plewd-, *plew- (“to float, swim, fly”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with float
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of float.
Questions about saying float
How do you pronounce float?
Say FLOHT. The American pronunciation is /floʊt/. In British English it is /fləʊt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in float?
Float is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FLOHT.
Is float pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /fləʊt/ (FLOHT).