How to Pronounce Boss

To pronounce "boss", say BOSS — one syllable, IPA /bɑs/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

boss

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/bɑs/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “boss”

"boss" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with cross and gloss, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: bos, bosse — easy to mix up when writing.

What does boss mean?

noun

  1. A person who oversees and directs the work of others; a supervisor.
  2. A person in charge of a business or company.

    “Chat turned to whisper when the boss entered the conference room.”

verb

  1. To exercise authoritative control over; to tell (someone) what to do, often repeatedly.

adjective

  1. Of excellent quality, first-rate.

    “That is a boss Zefron poster.”

Synonyms

employergovguvguvnormateheadleaderboss aroundlord over

Hear “boss” in real sentences

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

Words that rhyme with boss

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

crossglosstossposdrossalbatrossmossembossfosscrisscrosssossdoss

Related words

honchoforemanchiefhirerimportanttopsuperiorgaffer

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "boss"?▾

"Boss" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "boss"?▾

The IPA transcription of "boss" is /bɑs/.

What does "boss" mean?▾

Boss: A person who oversees and directs the work of others; a supervisor.

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