How to Pronounce Backup

To pronounce "backup", say BACK-up — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈbækˌʌp/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

backup

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 backup, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

2

Syllables

6

Letters

/ˈbækˌʌp/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “backup”

"backup" has 2 syllables: back-up.

What does backup mean?

noun

  1. A reserve or substitute.

    “If the goalkeeper is injured, we have a backup.”

  2. A copy of a file or record, stored separately from the original, that can be used to recover the original if it is destroyed or damaged.

    “After the power failure, we had to restore the database from backup.”

adjective

  1. Standby, reserve or extra.

    “I am only a backup player.”

  2. That is intended as a backup.

    “Make a backup copy of that file.”

Synonyms

linetailbackreservesparestand-insubstituteextrastandbybacking

Hear “backup” in real sentences

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

Related words

fill-insubstitutestand-inreliefbackstopback-upsafeguardsafeguarding

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "backup"?▾

"Backup" has 2 syllables: back · up.

What is the IPA transcription of "backup"?▾

The IPA transcription of "backup" is /ˈbækˌʌp/.

What does "backup" mean?▾

Backup: A reserve or substitute.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “backup” in the full dictionary →