3 syllables: Ou, i, ja Board. Stress on Ou.
WEE-juh-bawrd
/ˈwiː.dʒə bɔɹd/
Ouija Board is pronounced WEE-juh-bawrd (/ˈwiː.dʒə bɔɹd/). It has three syllables (Ou-i-ja Board), with the stress on "Ou". Ouija Board is a flat board used with a planchette for purported outdoor- or indoor-spirit communication; users place their fingertips on a movable pointer that lands on letters, numbers, and symbols to spell messages. The term combines the catchall word Ouija with the verb to board, historically marketed as a mystical tool. The board is typically used in casual séances and paranormal storytelling.
nounOuija Board is a flat board used with a planchette for purported outdoor- or indoor-spirit communication; users place their fingertips on a movable pointer that lands on letters, numbers, and symbols to spell messages. The term combines the catchall word Ouija with the verb to board, historically marketed as a mystical tool. The board is typically used in casual séances and paranormal storytelling.
"We hosted a spooky game night and pulled messages from the Ouija Board."
"The Ouija Board has long sparked debate about whether it’s just suggestibility or something more mysterious."
"She bought a vintage Ouija Board to display as a curious antique."
Pronounce as US/UK/AU: /ˈwiː.dʒə bɔːrd/. Stress on Ouija’s first syllable: WEE-zhuh, with the j as a soft d3 sound followed by a schwa in the second syllable; 'Board' rhymes with 'board' as in 'accord' or 'sword' without extra syllables. Place the tongue for /ˈwiː.dʒə/: lift the middle of the tongue toward the palate; /ˈwiː/ has a long E; /dʒ/ blends like 'j' in judge; /ə/ is a quick, weak vowel. For size and clarity, keep the planchette light and even on the board. Audio resources can help you compare, but aim for a steady, even tempo.
Common mistakes include: 1)placing too much stress on the second syllable of Ouija (should be on the first: WEE-zhuh), 2)mispronouncing the /dʒ/ as /j/ or /dʒ/ too harshly, 3)slurring the /bɔːrd/ part into a quick /boːrd/ or merging with the preceding schwa. To correct: practice the /ˈwiː.dʒə/ as a clean two-syllable unit with a light, brief /dʒ/; ensure the /ɔːr/ in 'board' is rounded and prolonged without adding extra consonants. Use minimal pairs and mirror your mouth in recording.
In US and UK, Ouija is typically /ˈwiː.dʒə/ with a rhotic /r/ in many American varieties, producing a stronger /r/ in 'board' (/bɔːrd/). UK accents often have non-rhoticity; /bɔːd/ without pronounced /r/ at the end. Australian English also tends toward non-rhoticity with clear /ɔː/ in 'board' and less pronounced /r/. The /dʒ/ sequence remains a single affricate across all, but vowel quality and rhotic behavior influence overall resonance. Listen to regional samples to calibrate your mouth shape.
The difficulty comes from the /ˈwiː.dʒə/ onset, where the /dʒ/ blends quickly after a long /iː/. The schwa /ə/ in the second syllable can be tricky to reduce without losing clarity. Finally, the /ɔːrd/ includes an elongated vowel with a trailing /r/ in rhotic accents; managing lip rounding and tongue posture for a smooth /ɔːr/ can be challenging in fast speech. Practice with quiet speech to stabilize the /dʒ/ timing and ensure the board segment remains distinct.
The brand-like name Ouija leads to a unique stress pattern and vowel quality; the initial /ˈwiː/ demands a long E, while /dʒə/ uses a soft, quick schwa before the rhotacized Board. Some speakers may attach a subtle /j/ or glide in the second syllable, reducing it to /ˈwiː.dʒə/ as two syllables rather than three. Ensure mouth posture: lips spread for /iː/, then jaw drop for /dʒə/.
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The word Ouija is believed to be a portmanteau or blend commonly attributed to a token or invented name during the late 19th to early 20th century. It is often claimed that Ouija originated from a combination of the French oui (yes) and the German ja (yes), suggesting affirmative responses; however, the true origin is uncertain and may reflect marketing lore rather than a historical linguistic base. The board’s modern form emerged in the 1890s alongside the rise of spiritualism in the United States, a cultural movement that popularized séances and communication with the dead. The word document that accompanied the product typically insisted that the Ouija board could interpret messages from the subconscious or from supernatural sources via the planchette’s directional movements. Over time, Ouija became embedded in popular culture as a supernatural tool, featured in films, literature, and casual folklore. The term “board” broadens the meaning to include the flat, printed surface with letters, numbers, and symbols, while Ouija itself became a brand-like name used to describe the apparatus. The first known commercial kits appeared in the late 19th century and became a recognizable cultural phenomenon in Western societies, particularly in North America, where séances and interest in spirit communication surged. The name’s enduring mystique persists in modern parlance as both a real object and a cultural reference.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Ouija Board" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Ouija Board" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Ouija Board"
-ard sounds
-ord sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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