How to pronounce hullabaloo
Say it like huhl-uh-buh-LOO. Hullabaloo has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (LOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hullabaloo. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- huhl
- uh
- buh
- LOO
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hullabaloo pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- huhlGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- buhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of hullabaloo
American and British speakers say hullabaloo in essentially the same way: /ˌhʌləbəˈlu/ in the US and /ˌhʌləbəˈluː/ in the UK.
British respelling: huhl-uh-buh-LOO.
What does hullabaloo mean?
- A clamor, a commotion; a fuss or uproar.“They made such a hullabaloo about the change that the authorities were forced to change it back.”
- To make a commotion or uproar.
Where does hullabaloo come from?
Possibly a rhyming reduplication of halloo (used as a greeting or to catch attention; used in hunting to urge on pursuers), hilloa, hullo (variants of “hello”), and similar words.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with hullabaloo
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hullabaloo.
Questions about saying hullabaloo
How do you pronounce hullabaloo?
Say huhl-uh-buh-LOO. The American pronunciation is /ˌhʌləbəˈlu/. In British English it is /ˌhʌləbəˈluː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hullabaloo?
Hullabaloo has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (LOO). Broken into parts: huhl · uh · buh · LOO.
Do Americans and Brits say hullabaloo the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌhʌləbəˈlu/ and the British form is /ˌhʌləbəˈluː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.