How to pronounce hobbledehoy
Say it like HOB-ul-dee-hoy. Hobbledehoy has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hobbledehoy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOB
- ul
- dee
- hoy
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hobbledehoy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HOBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- hoyKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of hobbledehoy
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: HOB-ul-dee-hoy.
What does hobbledehoy mean?
- An awkward adolescent youth.
Where does hobbledehoy come from?
From Scots. Compare dialectal English hobbledygee (“(with a) limping movement”); also French hobereau (“country squire”), English hobby, and Old French hoi (“today”); the original sense may have been "an upstart of today".
Questions about saying hobbledehoy
How do you pronounce hobbledehoy?
Say HOB-ul-dee-hoy. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɑbəldihɔɪ/. In British English it is /ˈhɒbəldihɔɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hobbledehoy?
Hobbledehoy has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOB). Broken into parts: HOB · ul · dee · hoy.
Is hobbledehoy pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈhɒbəldihɔɪ/ (HOB-ul-dee-hoy).