How to pronounce horseback
Say it like HORS-bak. Horseback has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HORS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce horseback. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- HORS
- bak
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Horseback pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- HORSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- bakGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of horseback
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: HAWS-bak.
What does horseback mean?
- The back of a horse.“They came on horseback across the plains.”
- A ridge of sand, gravel, and boulders.
- On the back of a horse.
Where does horseback come from?
From Middle English horsebacke, horsebak, horsbak, equivalent to horse + back.
Questions about saying horseback
How do you pronounce horseback?
Say HORS-bak. The American pronunciation is /ˈhɔrsˌbæk/. In British English it is /ˈhɔːsˌbæk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in horseback?
Horseback has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (HORS). Broken into parts: HORS · bak.
Is horseback pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈhɔːsˌbæk/ (HAWS-bak).