How to Pronounce About

To pronounce "about", say ab-OUT — 2 syllables, IPA /əˈbaʊt/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

about

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying about, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

Syllables

Letters

/əˈbaʊt/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/ɐbˈaʊt/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

Break "about" into 2 beats and lean on "OUT" — that's the stressed one. It rhymes with stout and rout, if that helps it stick.

adjective

Moving around; astir.
“After my bout with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, it took me 6 months to be up and about again.”
In existence; being in evidence; apparent.
“This idea has been about for a while but has only recently become fashionable.”

adverb

On all sides; around.
“I looked about at the scenery that surrounded me.”
Here and there; around; in one place and another; up and down.
“Bits of old machinery were lying about.”

preposition

In a circle around; all round; on every side of; on the outside of.
“The snake was coiled about his ankle.”
Over or upon different parts of; through or over in various directions; here and there in; to and fro in; throughout.
“He was well known about town.”

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

How many syllables are in "about"?▾

"About" has 2 syllables: ab · out.

What is the IPA transcription of "about"?▾

The IPA transcription of "about" is /əˈbaʊt/.

What does "about" mean?▾

About: Moving around; astir.

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