English pronunciation · Words Starting with B
Basalt Pronunciation
Basalt is pronounced buh-SAWLT, IPA /bəˈsɔlt/.
buh-SAWLT
US /bəˈsɔlt/ · UK /ˈbæsɒlt/
Syllables: buh · SAWLT (2 syllables, stress on syllable 2)
noun: A dark, fine-grained volcanic rock that forms when lava cools quickly.
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Basalt in a Sentence
- The cliffs are basalt, split into hexagonal columns.
- Most of the ocean floor is basalt.
- They paved the courtyard in black basalt.
Common Mispronunciations of Basalt
Not BAY-sawlt
The first vowel is short in both main accents, never the long ay of base. The spelling overlap with base is coincidental.
Not buh-SALT
The ending is the aw of law plus lt, so it rhymes with vault rather than with the word salt.
Tip: Americans usually say buh-SAWLT with the beat at the back; the British prefer BA-solt with it at the front.
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