How to Pronounce Badass

To pronounce "badass", say BAD-ass — 2 syllables, IPA /bædˈæs/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

badass

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

2

Syllables

6

Letters

/bædˈæs/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “badass”

"badass" has 2 syllables: bad-ass.

What does badass mean?

noun

  1. (negative connotation) A belligerent or mean person; a person with an unpleasantly extreme appearance, attitudes, or behavior.

    “Don’t mess with that guy, he’s a real badass.”

  2. (youth slang, positive connotation) A person considered impressive due to courage, skill, and/or toughness.

adjective

  1. (negative connotation) Belligerent and troublesome.
  2. (positive connotation) Having an extreme appearance, attitude, or behavior that is considered admirable.

    “That tough guy looks badass.”

Synonyms

awesomecoolsickwicked

Hear “badass” in real sentences

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

Related words

naughtybullyrascalroguebrutescoundrellowlifehard-ass

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "badass"?▾

"Badass" has 2 syllables: bad · ass.

What is the IPA transcription of "badass"?▾

The IPA transcription of "badass" is /bædˈæs/.

What does "badass" mean?▾

Badass: (negative connotation) A belligerent or mean person; a person with an unpleasantly extreme appearance, attitudes, or behavior.

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

Open “badass” in the full dictionary →