Proper Pronunciation Guide
backyard
[bæk̚ 
jɑ͜ɚd]
Tips:
- In this compound word stress the second word, or syllable, [jɑ͜ɚd].
- Pronounce the letters “ar” as the R-Vowel diphthong /ɑ͜ɚ/—like the vowel in “car”— and not simply as/ɑ:/.
- Explode the final /d/ lightly, making sure it is sufficiently voiced.
- Pronounce the vowel in the first syllable as /æ/—and not, for example, as/ɑ/ or even/ɛ/.
Practice Sentence:
| We had a barbecue in the backyard. |
Notes:
The first word, or syllable, may be stressed in situations where this word is contrasted—overtly or implicitly—with another yard: “The lawn has already been mowed in the front yard; now the lawn in thebackyard needs to be mowed.”