2 syllables: Life, buoy. Stress on Life.
LEYEF-boy
/ˈlaɪfbɔɪ/
Lifebuoy is pronounced LEYEF-boy (/ˈlaɪfbɔɪ/). It has two syllables (Life-buoy), with the stress on "Life". Lifebuoy is a portable flotation device, typically ring-shaped, used for personal safety in water. It is also a brand name commonly seen on lifesaving equipment. The term combines life with buoy, signaling its function to keep people afloat. In everyday talk, it refers to the ring-shaped life-preserver rather than a specific product in casual contexts.
nounLifebuoy is a portable flotation device, typically ring-shaped, used for personal safety in water. It is also a brand name commonly seen on lifesaving equipment. The term combines life with buoy, signaling its function to keep people afloat. In everyday talk, it refers to the ring-shaped life-preserver rather than a specific product in casual contexts.
"During the swim test, I kept my lifebuoy close in case I needed extra buoyancy."
"The lifebuoy on the boat glowed orange at night for visibility."
"We grabbed a lifebuoy from the rescue station after spotting someone in distress."
Pronounce it LI-fe-boy with primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU ˈlaɪf.bɔɪ. The first part uses /aɪ/ as in 'high', the second syllable uses /ɔɪ/ as in 'boy'. Ensure the /f/ is clearly enunciated between the two closed syllables, and end with a rounded /ɔɪ/ vowel. If you hear it in context, the pace stays steady: LI-fe-boy. Audio resources can reinforce this with recordings in standard accents.
Common errors include reducing the second syllable to a quick /boɪ/ without the /f/ release or merging the two vowels into a single /aɪ/ or /ɔɪ/ sequence. Another pitfall is misplacing stress, saying ‘LIfebuoy’ with equal emphasis or stressing the second syllable. To correct: emphasize LI (the /aɪ/ diphthong), clearly release the /f/, and then glide into /ɔɪ/ without inserting extra vowels. Practice with slow, segmented pronunciation: /laɪf/ + /boɪ/ and then blend.
US/UK/AU share the same primary stress on the first syllable: LIH-f-boi. In non-rhotic varieties (some UK accents), the /r/ is not pronounced in non-rhotic positions, but lifebuoy has no /r/ anyway. Australian English may slightly shorten the /ɔɪ/ diphthong and raise the starting /aɪ/ more before a rounded /ɔɪ/; but the overall pattern remains /laɪf.bɔɪ/. Listen for sharper /f/ release in US speech and a slightly broader vowel quality in UK and AU. IPA references: US/UK/AU ˈlaɪf.bɔɪ.
Two phonetic challenges stand out: the /laɪ/ beginning requires a clear glide from /l/ to /aɪ/ without breaking, and the /bɔɪ/ ending blends /b/ with a rounded /ɔɪ/ diphthong smoothly. Beginners often mispronounce the /f/ or merge /laɪf/ into /laɪ/ and drop the /f/. To master it, practice the consonant cluster /f/ between the vowels and keep the two diphthongs distinct. Slow practice with careful mouth positioning helps build accuracy.
Yes—the shell-like transition from /f/ to /b/ can trip learners. The /f/ ends with a labiodental release, and the next /b/ starts with a bilabial closure. Ensure a clean, audible /f/ release before starting /b/. Also keep the stress clean on the first syllable; do not let the second syllable attract undue emphasis. Practicing with minimal pairs like life-fire and life-ploy helps reinforce the boundary between /f/ and /b/.
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Lifebuoy derives from the combination of ‘life’ and ‘buoy’, where buoy (noun) refers to a floating object designed to float or rise to the top of a liquid surface. The word life dates from Old English lif, from Proto-Germanic lifam, tied to living and preservation. Buoy comes from Middle English buoyen, from Old French bouer, Latin boiare, related to buoyant. The modern term lifebuoy emerged in the 19th century as standardized safety equipment used to preserve life at sea and near water. As a compound noun, lifebuoy emphasizes the device’s purpose: to keep a person afloat and increase survivability in emergencies. Brand naming further popularized the term, but its generic usage remains in safety discourse and maritime contexts. First known uses appear in nautical manuals and rescue instructions of the late 1800s, reflecting growing awareness of personal flotation devices. In contemporary usage, lifebuoy retains the original meaning while also functioning as a generic descriptor despite the prevalence of other terms like life preserver or life ring, depending on regional preference. The term’s endurance points to its practicality and clarity in conveying safety-related meaning across English-speaking communities.
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Words that rhyme with "Lifebuoy"
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