2 syllables: base, line. Stress on base.
BAY-sleyen
/ˈbeɪˌslaɪn/
baseline is pronounced BAY-sleyen (/ˈbeɪˌslaɪn/). It has two syllables (base-line), with the stress on "base". Baseline refers to a starting point or reference standard used for comparison, analysis, or measurement. It can describe an initial set of data, a ground level in physical or metaphorical terms, or the default value against which changes are tracked. In speech, it also indicates the expected or neutral pronunciation pattern from which deviations are measured.
Baseline refers to a starting point or reference standard used for comparison, analysis, or measurement. It can describe an initial set of data, a ground level in physical or metaphorical terms, or the default value against which changes are tracked. In speech, it also indicates the expected or neutral pronunciation pattern from which deviations are measured.
"We established a baseline by recording the team’s performance over the first quarter."
"The baseline temperature is 20 degrees Celsius, and all readings are compared against it."
"Researchers compared the new method to a known baseline to assess improvement."
Baseline is pronounced BEYS-line with two syllables and primary stress on the first: /ˈbeɪsˌlaɪn/. Start with the /beɪ/ as in 'bay', then the /s/ blends into /laɪn/ as in 'line'. Ensure the /ˈbeɪs/ portion is a smooth CV sequence, and the second syllable begins with a crisp /l/ before the diphthong /aɪ/.
Common errors include turning /beɪs/ into a heavier /beɪs-/, mispronouncing the second syllable as /lin/ with a hard L and short I, or slurring to /beɪzlin/ without the clear /aɪ/ vowel in the second syllable. To correct: keep /beɪs/ as a steady syllable, then release /laɪn/ with a true long I and light but audible L. Practice by isolating /beɪs/ then /laɪn/ and slowly merging them to maintain crisp transitions.
In US English, you’ll hear a strong /ˈbeɪs/ followed by /laɪn/ with a rhotic r only if followed by a vowel elsewhere; the R is not pronounced in baseline itself. In many UK varieties, /ˈbeɪsˌlaɪn/ is similar but with slightly less rhotacism; the /l/ is clear and the second syllable isn’t reduced. Australian English mirrors US pronunciation but can show a more centralized vowel in some speakers, with a bright /eɪ/ and clear /laɪn/. Overall, the core is /ˈbeɪsˌlaɪn/ with minor vowel quality shifts.
The challenge lies in the combination of a dense onset /beɪs/ followed by a rapid /laɪn/, with the tricky diphthong /aɪ/ blending into the alveolar /l/ and /n/. You also must time the stress on the first syllable while keeping the second syllable crisp. Additionally, subtle consonant coarticulation between /s/ and /l/ can blur, especially in fast speech. Focus on the two-syllable rhythm and transition from /s/ to /l/.
For SEO-focused search terms, many users type ‘baseline’ in two almost equal syllables with emphasis on the first, so pronunciation guides often stress the /ˈbeɪs/ portion. Keep the /laɪn/ crisp but not dragging; in spoken prompts or mic inputs, you’ll hear a slight lengthening of the first syllable before the /l/ onset. This specific expectation helps ensure your audio matches user search intents.
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Baseline comes from 19th-century English, combining 'base' (from Old French bas) meaning bottom or foundation, with '-line' from Latin linea meaning line or boundary. The term originally described the line at the base of a plot, field, or diagram used as a reference for measurements. In sports and statistics, baseline evolved to denote a fixed starting point or reference value. Over time, its use broadened to non-physical contexts such as performance baselines, experimental baselines, and baseline data in research. The modern sense of a minimum or standard level used for comparison is well established by the early 20th century, with gradual adoption in business and data analysis to describe the initial conditions before a process or change is introduced.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "baseline" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "baseline" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "baseline"
-ine sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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