How to Pronounce Buoy

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

buoy

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

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying buoy, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

1

Syllable

4

Letters

/ˈbɔɪ/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “buoy”

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

Sounds exactly like: booee — easy to mix up when writing.

What does buoy mean?

noun

  1. A float moored in water to mark a location, warn of danger, or indicate a navigational channel.
  2. A life-buoy; a life preserver.

verb

  1. To keep afloat or aloft; used with up.
  2. To support or maintain at a high level.

Hear “buoy” 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 buoy

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

ennuidewygooeyscrewyblueysueychewyglueypeweephooeycooeespewy

Related words

mooringraftlifelinebeaconfloatmarkerlifttag

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "buoy"?▾

"Buoy" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "buoy"?▾

The IPA transcription of "buoy" is /ˈbɔɪ/.

What does "buoy" mean?▾

Buoy: A float moored in water to mark a location, warn of danger, or indicate a navigational channel.

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

Open “buoy” in the full dictionary →