The word "backyard" is spelled as /ˈbækjɑːrd/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The "back" component is pronounced as /bæk/ while the "yard" is pronounced as /jɑːrd/. The "a" in "back" has the short "a" sound as in "bat", while the "ar" in "yard" ends with the long "a" sound as in "art". The "y" in "yard" makes a consonant sound /j/, similar to the "y" sound in "yes". Together, this spelling and pronunciation create a clear and recognizable word for our outdoor living spaces.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "backyard" originated in the late 16th century and is a compound word combining the noun "back" and the noun "yard".
The noun "back" comes from Middle English "bak" and Old English "bæc", which referred to the rear part of something or the back of a body. It has Germanic origins and is related to the Old High German word "bah" and Old Norse word "bak".
The noun "yard" comes from Middle English "yerd" and Old English "geard", which meant an enclosed or fenced-in area. It has West Germanic roots and is related to the Old Frisian word "jerd", Old Saxon word "gard", and Old High German word "gart".
Combining "back" and "yard", the term "backyard" referred to the area located behind or at the back of a house.