How to pronounce softball
Say it like SAWFT-bawl. Softball has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAWFT).
- SAWFT
- bawl
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Softball pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SAWFTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- bawlGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of softball
American and British speakers say softball in essentially the same way: /ˈsɔftˌbɔl/ in the US and /ˈsɒftˌbɔːl/ in the UK.
British respelling: SOFT-bawl.
What does softball mean?
- ball used in playing softball
- a game closely resembling baseball that is played on a smaller diamond and with a ball that is larger and softer
Where does softball come from?
1926: soft + ball. Compare hardball.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying softball
How do you pronounce softball?
Say SAWFT-bawl. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɔftˌbɔl/. In British English it is /ˈsɒftˌbɔːl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in softball?
Softball has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAWFT). Broken into parts: SAWFT · bawl.
Do Americans and Brits say softball the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɔftˌbɔl/ and the British form is /ˈsɒftˌbɔːl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.