How to pronounce tomboy
Say it like TOM-boy. Tomboy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tomboy. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TOM
- boy
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tomboy pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TOMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- boyKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of tomboy
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: TOM-boy.
What does tomboy mean?
- A girl who behaves in a typically boyish manner.“His sister, his dearest and only playmate, is a tomboy at heart.”
- A butch lesbian.
Where does tomboy come from?
From tom + boy. First attested in Ralph Roister Doister (published 1567, written circa 1552), where it is used to describe a boisterous girl; the OED says the citation is however "generally taken" to mean a boisterous boy, and says that a u
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying tomboy
How do you pronounce tomboy?
Say TOM-boy. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɑmbɔɪ/. In British English it is /ˈtɒmbɔɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tomboy?
Tomboy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TOM). Broken into parts: TOM · boy.
Is tomboy pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈtɒmbɔɪ/ (TOM-boy).