3 syllables: Bou, le, vard. Stress on Bou.
BUUL-uh-vahrd
/ˈbʊləˌvɑɹd/
Boulevard is pronounced BUUL-uh-vahrd (/ˈbʊləˌvɑɹd/). It has three syllables (Bou-le-vard), with the stress on "Bou". Boulevard is a wide, paved urban road, often lined with trees and buildings. In American usage it typically denotes a main city street, sometimes with multiple lanes and a median. The term conveys a sense of formality and municipal design, as opposed to a simple street or road.
nounBoulevard is a wide, paved urban road, often lined with trees and buildings. In American usage it typically denotes a main city street, sometimes with multiple lanes and a median. The term conveys a sense of formality and municipal design, as opposed to a simple street or road.
"We strolled down the boulevard, enjoying the autumn leaves along the storefronts."
"The new French-style bistro is located on Sunset Boulevard."
"A boulevard with a median separates traffic in opposite directions."
Boulevard is pronounced as /ˈbʊl.ɪ.vɔːrd/ in US English, with primary stress on the first syllable. Break it into three parts: BUL – li – vard. The “bou” yields /ˈbʊl/ (like 'bull'), the middle is a short /ɪ/ as in 'bit', and the final is /vɔːrd/ with an r-colored vowel and a dark 'r' in rhotic accents. See audio resources for a precise cadence, especially the final /rd/ cluster.
Common errors: (1) Over-emphasizing the second syllable with a long /iː/ instead of the short /ɪ/. (2) Dropping the /l/ sound in the first syllable, saying /ˈbuːˌləvɔːrd/ or /ˈbɒləvɔːd/. (3) Mispronouncing the final /rd/ as /d/ without the rhotic ending; ensure a light /r/ before the /d/ or a subtle linking /ɹ/ depending on accent. Correct by isolating three phonemes: /ˈbʊl/ + /ɪ/ + /vɔːrd/, and practice the /rd/ cluster with a quick touch of the tongue on the alveolar ridge.” ,
In US English, expect /ˈbʊl.ɪ.vɔːrd/ with a rhotic end and a clear /r/. UK English tends toward /ˈbʊl.ɪ.vɔːd/, often non-rhotic, making the final /d/ less rhotic; vowel quality in the final syllable may be shorter and less rounded. Australian English commonly yields /ˈbəːləvɑːd/ or /ˈbɒl.ə.vɑːd/, with variable rhoticity and broader vowel realignments. Practicing with region-specific audio helps; pay attention to rhotic vs non-rhotic endings and vowel tongue height.
Boulevard challenges include the three-syllable rhythm with a stressed initial syllable, the mid /ɪ/ sound that’s short and quick, and the final /vɔːrd/ or /vɔːd/ cluster that requires precise tongue positioning for the /v/ and the alveolar /r/ before /d/ in rhotic varieties. Beginners often misplace the stress or merge /l/ with /ɪ/. Slow, deliberate articulation and isolation of the final cluster help—start with /ˈbʊl/ then add /ɪ/ and finally /vɔːrd/.
A unique point is the subtle length difference between the first and final syllables in many speakers: the first syllable /ˈbʊl/ often carries the strongest stress and a quick, rounded vowel, while the final /vɔːrd/ may be reduced slightly in non-rhotic accents. In careful speech, you’ll hear a crisp /l/ in the first syllable and a clear /r/ before the final /d/ in rhotic accents. Practice by comparing the three segments in isolation and then in connected speech.
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Boulevard comes from French boulevard, which originally referred to a broad, level, grassy place or a tree-lined promenade. The French noun boulevard itself derives from the Old French bollevart, a compound of bolle (ball, sphere) and vert (green or turning), reflecting a broad, cultivated open space. In 18th- and 19th-century Europe, “boulevard” shifted from describing a park or promenade to a wide, scenic avenue bordered by trees. The term entered English in the early 19th century, particularly with urban planning and the construction of grand avenues in cities. In the United States, Boulevard retained a sense of a major, ceremonial street, often associated with well-known city districts (e.g., Sunset Boulevard). The pronunciation standardization across English varieties emphasizes the silent “u” in the second syllable while preserving the stress pattern on the third syllable in many dialects. First known use in English citations appears in the early 1800s, paralleling the modernization of urban design in European-influenced cities.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Boulevard" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Boulevard" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Boulevard"
-der sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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