How to Pronounce Bound

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

bound

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Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

5

Letters

/ˈbaʊnd/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “bound”

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

What does bound mean?

verb

  1. To tie; to confine by any ligature.
  2. To cohere or stick together in a mass.

    “Just to make the cheese more binding”

adjective

  1. (with infinitive) Obliged (to).

    “You are not legally bound to reply.”

  2. (of a morpheme) That cannot stand alone as a free word.

Synonyms

bandagedressfastenfettermake fastrestraintieindenture

Antonyms

free

Hear “bound” 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 bound

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

profoundexpoundresoundrenownedsoundconfoundgroundreboundstoundroundcompoundpound

Related words

obligatedswornobligatecertainsurearticleddestinedtied

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "bound"?▾

"Bound" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "bound"?▾

The IPA transcription of "bound" is /ˈbaʊnd/.

What does "bound" mean?▾

Bound: To tie; to confine by any ligature.

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