2 syllables: face, book. Stress on face.
FAYS-buuk
/ˈfeɪˌsbʊk/
facebook is pronounced FAYS-buuk (/ˈfeɪˌsbʊk/). It has two syllables (face-book), with the stress on "face". Facebook is a proper noun referring to a leading global social-media platform. The term combines the name of a directory or face image (face) with a branding suffix (book), and is widely used in digital communication. In practice, it denotes the company or its service, and is recognized as a trademark in many regions, often used as a mass noun or brand name with capitalization.
Facebook is a proper noun referring to a leading global social-media platform. The term combines the name of a directory or face image (face) with a branding suffix (book), and is widely used in digital communication. In practice, it denotes the company or its service, and is recognized as a trademark in many regions, often used as a mass noun or brand name with capitalization.
"I logged into Facebook to check the event invite."
"She posted a photo album on Facebook yesterday."
"Facebook's new policy update sparked a lot of discussion."
Facebook is pronounced as /ˈfeɪsˌbʊk/ in US and UK speech. The primary stress is on the first syllable face, with a secondary stress on the second syllable –bʊk. The vowels are a diphthong in the first syllable (face) and a short, rounded vowel in the second (book). Start with a clear /ˈfeɪs/ then glide into /bʊk/. Some speakers insert a subtle syllabic stop at the end; keep it as a light /k/ release. Audio references: you can compare with native pronunciations on Forvo or YouGlish.
Common errors: 1) Slurring into /ˈfeɪsəbʊk/ without secondary stress; fix by ensuring a light pause or slight emphasis before the /b/ and clearly enunciating /b/ and /ʊ/; 2) Mispronouncing /bʊk/ as /book/ with a long oo sound; use a short /ʊ/ as in ‘pull’ and close lips; 3) Reducing the first syllable to /feɪ/ only or misplacing stress; keep primary stress on /feɪs/. Practice by chunking: /ˈfeɪs/ + /bʊk/ with crisp /b/ and /k/ release.
In general, Facebook is rhotic in US, UK, and AU, so the /r/ is not present in this word, but rhotics affect surrounding vowels in connected speech. US speakers may have a slightly stronger /æ/ or /eɪ/ realization in the first vowel of 'face,' while UK and AU varieties favor a closer realization of /eɪ/ with subtle differences in vowel length. The /b/ and /k/ are crisp across all three, with tiny variations in vowel preceding consonants. Overall, the main differences lie in vowel color and connected speech timing.
The challenge comes from the tight vowel sequence in the first syllable /ˈfeɪs/ followed quickly by the short /bʊk/ with an abrupt onset of /b/. Non-native listeners may misplace stress, merge the two syllables, or distort the /ɪ/ or /ɪə/ quality in fast speech. Also, the /b/ and /k/ are plosives that require precise timing; ensure the /b/ holds its voice and the /k/ lands with a crisp aspirated release. Slow practice helps you lock the transition.
Is the final /k/ released with full aspiration in fast speech, or is it often lightly unreleased in casual talk? In careful speech, you’ll hear a crisp /k/ release after /b/; in rapid conversation, you may get a shorter or glottalized ending. Pay attention to whether the speaker finishes with a slight voiceless release or a softer closure, and adjust your mouth to clearly articulate /k/ without adding extra vowels.
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Facebook originated as a brand name for a social-networking service created by Mark Zuckerberg and fellow Harvard students in 2004. The word Facebook derives from “face” (referring to a person’s face or a face-page in a student directory) combined with “book” as a metaphor for a collection of faces. The original site, Thefacebook, launched at Harvard and quickly expanded to other universities before becoming simply Facebook in 2005. The product name plays on the familiar yearbook-like “face book” concept, indicating a digital ledger of people and profiles. As the platform grew into a global service, the term became a generic umbrella for the company’s social discovery tools, advertising ecosystem, and API integrations. The brand has since become widely recognized; however, it remains a trademark and is commonly written capitalized as Facebook, though casual usage sometimes treats it as a common noun when referring to social networks in general. The word’s usage has evolved from a campus directory metaphor to a dominant global platform, influencing terms like “Facebook comment,” “Facebook page,” and “Facebook Live.”
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "facebook" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "facebook" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "facebook"
-ack sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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