How to pronounce "bald" in English
bɔːld
BAWLD
Primary stress: BAWLD
Hear native speakers say bald in context across real video clips
Linguistic Pronunciation Masterclass: “bald”
Phonetic mechanics, syllable architecture, and conversational cadence
Syllable Architecture & Stress Distribution
BAWLD
Tense long vowel with sustained acoustic resonance.
As a single-syllable word, "bald" receives full primary stress when spoken in isolation, though it may take a reduced weak form in connected speech when acting as a function word.
Common Pronunciation Traps & Learner Mistakes
The Trap: Single-syllable words like "bald" carry primary acoustic prominence in isolation, but can be swallowed in rapid connected speech.
How Native Speakers Say It: Sustain vowel clarity without rushing into the trailing consonant. Elevate pitch slightly when "bald" carries the primary contrast or new information in a sentence.
Connected Speech & Natural Conversational Flow
When "bald" is followed by a word starting with a vowel, glide the final consonant into the opening vowel (e.g. "bald is" sounds like "bald-iz").
In natural sentences, avoid over-stressing "bald" unless it conveys the core contrast or focal point of your message.
Authentic Spoken Quotes from Native Video Context
“Bald eagles, which are also big, fish-loving birds, are almost as talented, with a success rate of about 80%.”— SciShowWatch clip
“bald had and his expanded clenchfisted arms lying full in the pool of light from the shaded lamp."”— YaleCoursesWatch clip
“bald eagles. Take the beautiful redtailed hawk that a sharp eye can spot in trees or on”— TEDx TalksWatch clip
“Bald Eagles will add otter pup to their diet if they get the chance”— Smithsonian ChannelWatch clip
“Bald eagles and ravens fed on the carrion that the wolves abandoned.”— TED-EdWatch clip
“bald and uh one guy had uncontestable proof that he was out of state on the day that Coleman claimed he was in the state uh selling drugs.”— Harvard UniversityWatch clip
Practice Speaking “bald”
Listen to native pronunciation, record yourself repeating the sentence into your microphone, and receive real-time word-by-word accuracy scoring.
Bald eagles, which are also big, fish-loving birds, are almost as talented, with a success rate of about 80%.
Hear it in context: “bald”
758 clipsThe English word “bald” is transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as bɔːld (phonetic respelling: BAWLD). Phonologically, it consists of 1 syllable (BAWLD), pronounced as a single stressed monosyllable. Grammatically, “bald” functions as a adjective, noun, verb and acts as an English heteronym where syllable stress shifts between noun (initial-syllable stress) and verb (second-syllable stress) usage. SayItVid indexes 758 authentic English video clips demonstrating how native speakers articulate “bald” in natural connected speech across American (US: 8 sampled), British (UK), and Australian (AUS) accents, including verified broadcasts from SciShow, YaleCourses, TEDx Talks.
Spoken Video Transcripts & Contextual Quotes (5 Verified Clips)
- 🇺🇸 USSciShowClip #1 · @4:04
“of water almost anywhere in the world. Bald eagles, which are also big, fish-loving birds, are almost as talented, with a success rate of about 80%. rate of about 80%.”
- 🇺🇸 USYaleCoursesClip #2 · @31:47
“from the door, he sees that Hightower has not moved, his bald had and his expanded clenchfisted arms lying full in the pool of light from the shaded lamp." in the pool of light from the shaded lamp."”
- 🇺🇸 USTEDx TalksClip #3 · @4:17
“pictured at the beginning. Lions, bears, bald eagles. Take the beautiful redtailed hawk that a sharp eye can spot in trees or on Take the beautiful redtailed hawk that a”
- 🇺🇸 USSmithsonian ChannelClip #4 · @11:01
“Unable to swim or dive to escape predators. Bald Eagles will add otter pup to their diet if they get the chance if they get the chance”
- 🇺🇸 USTED-EdClip #5 · @3:12
“foxes and badgers. Bald eagles and ravens fed on the carrion that the wolves abandoned. that the wolves abandoned.”
Definition & Meaning: “bald”
- Having little or no hair, fur, or feathers.
- A mountain summit or crest that lacks forest growth despite a warm climate conducive to such, as is found in many places in the Southern Appalachian Mountains.
- A bald person.
- To become bald.
- To make bald.
Example Sentences (3)
- “My uncle is bald.”
- “a bald man with a moustache”
- “Bald eagles, which are also big, fish-loving birds, are almost as talented, with a success rate of about 80%.”
Common Phrases & Collocations
Pronounce: “bald”
- Pronunciation:
- BAWLD
- Syllables:
- BAWLD
- Written Hyphenation:
- bald
- Primary stress:
- BAWLD
- IPA:
- bɔːld
- Hear it in context
- bald
Synonyms: “bald”
Hear words related in meaning to “bald” in real video clips:
Words that Rhyme with “bald”
-ɔldWords that Sound Identical (Homophones)
Unique Sound"bald" (⁄bɔːld⁄) has no true homophones in standard English — there are no other words with identical pronunciation. Unlike sound-alike pairs like there / their or peace / piece, "bald" has a completely distinct phonetic identity.
Frequently asked questions about bald
How do you pronounce “bald”?
“bald” is pronounced ⁄bɔːld⁄ (BAWLD). Listen to the native-speaker clips above to hear it in real conversation.
Where is the stress in “bald”?
The primary stress in “bald” is on “BAWLD”. Listen for that stressed syllable in the clips above.
What does “bald” mean?
Having little or no hair, fur, or feathers.
How can I hear “bald” used in real sentences?
This page has 758 real-world video examples of “bald” with synchronized subtitles. Use Previous / Next (or ← / → keys) to hear each one at the exact moment it is spoken.
What is the most common pronunciation mistake when saying “bald”?
Single-syllable words like "bald" carry primary acoustic prominence in isolation, but can be swallowed in rapid connected speech. Sustain vowel clarity without rushing into the trailing consonant. Elevate pitch slightly when "bald" carries the primary contrast or new information in a sentence.