2 syllables: a, float. Stress on float.
uh-FLOHT
/əˈfloʊt/
afloat is pronounced uh-FLOHT (/əˈfloʊt/). It has two syllables (a-float), with the stress on "float". Afloat means floating or suspended in water or air, not sinking or grounded. It can also describe something carried or supported so as to remain on the surface or in motion without sinking. The term is often used in nautical, financial, or figurative contexts to indicate buoyancy or being afloat financially or emotionally.
Afloat means floating or suspended in water or air, not sinking or grounded. It can also describe something carried or supported so as to remain on the surface or in motion without sinking. The term is often used in nautical, financial, or figurative contexts to indicate buoyancy or being afloat financially or emotionally.
"The boat remained afloat despite the rough seas."
"She kept her head afloat in the hectic newsroom."
"The company must stay financially afloat during the downturn."
Pronounce as a‑float with stress on the second syllable: /əˈfloʊt/ in US and /əˈfləʊt/ in UK/AU. Start with a schwa, then the /floʊ/ (US) or /fləʊ/ (UK/AU) sequence; the mouth closes slightly for the long vowel, lips spread into a rounded position for /oʊ/. The initial /ə/ is relaxed, and the /fl/ cluster requires light, rapid onset of /f/ with the following /l/ quickly after. Practice by isolating the /floʊ/ or /fləʊ/ and then blend with the initial schwa.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying /əˈfloʊt/ with the stress on the first syllable) and mispronouncing the vowel as /aʊ/ or a short /o/ in /floʊ/. Also, some speakers insert an extra syllable or pronounce it as /ə-floʊt/ with a tense /o/. Correction: keep the primary stress on the second syllable, produce the /floʊ/ or /fləʊ/ sequence with a smooth glide from /f/ to /l/ to the long vowel, and avoid adding an unnecessary vowel after the t.
In US English, /əˈfloʊt/ features a clear rhotic schwa and a pronounced /oʊ/ diphthong. In UK English, /əˈfləʊt/ uses /ə/ then a non-rhotic /ləʊ/ with a broader /əʊ/ and less rhotic influence. Australian English typically mirrors UK with /əˈfləʊt/ but may have a shorter first vowel and slight vowel merger in some speakers. The key differences are rhoticity and the quality of the second syllable vowel: /oʊ/ vs /əʊ/ and the degree of vowel length vs laxness.
The challenge lies in the two-syllable rhythm and the diphthong transitions in /oʊ/ or /əʊ/. The /f/ + /l/ cluster can cause a subtle lisp or misarticulation if the lips and tongue don’t coordinate: you want a clean /fl/ onset, then a smooth glide into the long vowel. Additionally, the schwa in the first syllable must be relaxed and unstressed, which can be easy to over-articulate when trying to maintain rhythm.
Afloat uses a secondary syllabic rhythm where the /fl/ cluster links tightly to the diphthong vowel; treating the /fl/ as a single onset helps prevent an intrusive extra sound. The pitch tends to stay level through the second syllable, with a final, crisp /t/ release. IPA guidance: US /əˈfloʊt/, UK/AU /əˈfləʊt/; keep the schwa unstressed and let the lip rounding on /oʊ/ guide the ear to a natural finish.
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Afloat derives from the combination of a- (a prefix meaning ‘on’ or ‘in’) and float, dating from Old English flēotan (to swim, to swim along, float). The sense of being supported on water emerged as maritime usage expanded in Middle English, with writs and logs describing ships that stayed ‘a- afloat’ to indicate buoyancy and safety. By early modern English, afloat appeared as a standard adjective describing vessels that rest on the surface rather than sink, and later broadened metaphorically to describe anything kept above water or in reasonable financial or operational condition. The word’s earliest written attestations appear in nautical texts of the 13th–14th centuries, with evolving semantic breadth through trade, exploration, and commerce, finally capturing contemporary senses of ongoing viability and buoyancy across contexts.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "afloat" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "afloat" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "afloat"
-oat sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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