Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

backgammon

/ˈbæk.ɡæm.ən/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 2.45 in modern English

Syllables
backgam-mon
IPA
/ˈbæk.ɡæm.ən/
23
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
3
Syllables
8
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A board game for two players in which each has 15 stones which move between 24 triangular points according to the roll of a pair of dice; the object is to move all of one's pieces around, and bear them off the board.

Countable; Uncountable

noun

A victory in the game when the loser has not borne off a stone, and still has one or more stones in the winner's inner home row or on the bar.

Countable; Uncountable

verb

To win at a backgammon game with the opponent having one or more pieces in the winner’s inner home row or on the bar.

Example Sentences

Etymology

Probably from back + Middle English gamen, from Old English gamen (“amusement, game”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Usage

Inflected Forms

backgammons (plural) backgammons (present, singular) backgammoning (participle, present) backgammoned (participle, past) backgammoned (past)

Phrases

Dutch backgammon Russian backgammon tick-tack tric-trac trick-track

Frequently Paired Words

gammon tick-tack tric-trac trick-track

Questions

How do you pronounce backgammon?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbæk.ɡæm.ən/.
What does backgammon mean?
A board game for two players in which each has 15 stones which move between 24 triangular points according to the roll of a pair of dice; the object is to move all of one's pieces around, and bear them off the board.
Where does backgammon come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce backgammon

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “backgammon”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈbæk.ɡæm.ən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “backgammon”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “backgammon” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.