How to pronounce knickerbockers
Say it like NIK-er-bok-erz. Knickerbockers has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NIK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce knickerbockers. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NIK
- er
- bok
- erz
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Knickerbockers pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NIKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- bokKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- erzKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of knickerbockers
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: NIK-uh-bok-uz.
What does knickerbockers mean?
- Men's or boys' baggy knee breeches, of a type particularly popular in the early 20th century.
Where does knickerbockers come from?
From Knickerbocker + -s, after the short breeches worn by Diedrich Knickerbocker in George Cruikshank's illustrations of Washington Irving's 1809 A History of New York.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying knickerbockers
How do you pronounce knickerbockers?
Say NIK-er-bok-erz. The American pronunciation is /ˈnɪkɚbɑkɚz/. In British English it is /ˈnɪkəbɒkəz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in knickerbockers?
Knickerbockers has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (NIK). Broken into parts: NIK · er · bok · erz.
Is knickerbockers 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 /ˈnɪkəbɒkəz/ (NIK-uh-bok-uz).