How to Pronounce Basketball

To pronounce "basketball", say BASK-etb-all — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈbɑːs.kɪt.bɔːl/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

basketball

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

3

Syllables

10

Letters

/ˈbɑːs.kɪt.bɔːl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “basketball”

"basketball" has 3 syllables: bask-etb-all. It rhymes with squall and banal, if that helps it stick.

What does basketball mean?

noun

  1. A sport in which two opposing teams of five players strive to put a ball through a hoop.
  2. The particular kind of ball used in the sport of basketball.

Synonyms

hoops

Words that rhyme with basketball

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

squallbanalappallpallcallgallforestallrecallstallprotocolfallbrawl

Related words

footballnbaplayerteamshoeballoonballsneaker

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "basketball"?▾

"Basketball" has 3 syllables: bask · etb · all.

What is the IPA transcription of "basketball"?▾

The IPA transcription of "basketball" is /ˈbɑːs.kɪt.bɔːl/.

What does "basketball" mean?▾

Basketball: A sport in which two opposing teams of five players strive to put a ball through a hoop.

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

Open “basketball” in the full dictionary →