Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

ballyhoo

/bæliˈhuː/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.95 in modern English

Syllables: bal-ly-hoo
IPA: /bæliˈhuː/

16

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Sensational or clamorous advertising or publicity.

Informal

noun

Noisy shouting or uproar.

Informal

verb

To sensationalize or make grand claims.

Informal; Transitive verb

noun

Certain species in family Hemiramphidae, inshore, surface-dwelling needlefish forming sizeable schools.

noun

Certain species in family Hemiramphidae, inshore, surface-dwelling needlefish forming sizeable schools.

noun

An unseaworthy or slovenly ship.

Example Sentences

"Talk, it's only talk / Babble, burble, banter / Bicker, bicker, bicker / Brouhaha, balderdash, ballyhoo / It's only talk / Back talk"
"Industry has picked up, railroads are carrying more freight, farm prices are better, but I am not going to indulge in issuing proclamations of over-enthusiastic assurance. We cannot ballyhoo ourselves back to prosperity."

Etymology

Uncertain. Perhaps a shortening of the Irish village Ballyhooly, known for its rowdiness.

Origin

Source language: Spanish

Word Breakdown

Root: balahú

Usage

Inflected Forms

ballyhoos (plural) ballyhoos (present, singular) ballyhooing (participle, present) ballyhooed (participle, past) ballyhooed (past)

Derived Forms

ballyhooer

Frequently Paired Words

ballyhooed

Synonyms

hoopla hype plug

Rhymes With

to you do who to-do new two too through few true due

Questions

How do you pronounce ballyhoo?: The recorded pronunciation is /bæliˈhuː/.
What does ballyhoo mean?: Sensational or clamorous advertising or publicity.
Where does ballyhoo come from?: It is traced to Spanish.

How to pronounce ballyhoo

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “ballyhoo”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/bæliˈhuː/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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