How to pronounce hobo
Say it like HOH-boh. Hobo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hobo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HOH
- boh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hobo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- bohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of hobo
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: HOH-boh.
What does hobo mean?
- A wandering homeless person, especially (historical) one illegally traveling by rail or (derogatory) a penniless, unemployed bum.
- Any migratory laborer, whether homeless or not.
- A kind of large handbag.
- To be a hobo, tramp, bum etc.“Joe idly hoboed through half the country till he realized hoboing never gets you anywhere in life.”
Where does hobo come from?
Unknown. Possibly a contraction of ho, boy or the dialectal English term hawbuck (“lout, clumsy fellow, country bumpkin”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with hobo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hobo.
Questions about saying hobo
How do you pronounce hobo?
Say HOH-boh. The American pronunciation is /ˈhoʊboʊ/. In British English it is /ˈhəʊbəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hobo?
Hobo has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HOH). Broken into parts: HOH · boh.
Is hobo 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 /ˈhəʊbəʊ/ (HOH-boh).