Badminton is pronounced BAD-min-tən, with the stress on the first syllable. In phonetic notation it is /ˈbædmɪntən/ in both American and British English. The final syllable is soft and short, like the “-ton” in “Washington” rather than “ton” as in a weight.
Saying it right
- Syllables: three: BAD-min-tən
- Stress: on the first syllable, BAD
- IPA: /ˈbædmɪntən/ (US and UK)
- Spelling: b-a-d-m-i-n-t-o-n, with an n before the t
- Common mistake: “badmitten” or “badmiton”, which drop the n
Syllable by syllable
| Syllable | Sounds like | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BAD | “bad” | Stressed. Short a, as in “cat”. |
| min | “min” | Short i, as in “pin”. |
| tən | “tun” | Unstressed and short; the vowel is a soft schwa. |
Say it quickly and evenly after the first syllable: BAD-min-tun. In fast American speech the t is sometimes softened, but the n before it is always there.
Common mistakes
- “Badmitten” or “badmitton”: the most common slip. There is no “mitten” in badminton; keep the n before the t.
- “Badminton” with stress on the second syllable (bad-MIN-ton): sounds unnatural to native speakers.
- “Bad-min-TON” with a strong final syllable: the last syllable should be weak.
- Spelling it “badmington”: there is no g. The word comes from a place name, Badminton, in England.
Where the word comes from
The sport is named after Badminton House, the country estate of the Dukes of Beaufort in Gloucestershire, England, where the game was popularised in the 1870s. The village and estate are pronounced the same way as the sport. Read the full story in our history of badminton.
How other languages say badminton
Many languages simply borrow the English word with local pronunciation, while others have their own names:
| Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Chinese (Mandarin) | yǔmáoqiú | “feather ball” |
| Indonesian | bulu tangkis | “feather” + “catch” |
| Malay | badminton | borrowed from English |
| Japanese | badominton | borrowed from English |
| Danish, German, French, Spanish | badminton | borrowed from English |
Related words worth saying correctly
- Shuttlecock: SHUT-l-kok. Often shortened to shuttle.
- Birdie: BUR-dee, the North American nickname for the shuttle.
- BWF: say the letters, B-W-F, for the Badminton World Federation.
New to the vocabulary of the game? See our badminton terms glossary and how to play badminton.
FAQ
Is it badminton or badmitten?
Badminton. “Badmitten” is a common mispronunciation and misspelling.
Is the pronunciation different in British and American English?
Only slightly. Both stress the first syllable; Americans may soften the t a little.
Why is it called badminton?
After Badminton House in Gloucestershire, England, where the game became fashionable in the 1870s.
