English spellings/Catalogs/B

The metadata subpage is missing. You can start it via filling in this form or by following the instructions that come up after clicking on the [show] link to the right.

Do you see this on PREVIEW? then SAVE! before following a link. To find out more about the use of metadata for the management of Citizendium pages, see CZ:Metadata. You may see this box for one of two reasons. Either: A - New page has been created, or subpages template was added to an existing page B - Cluster move is in progress Click either the A or B link for further instructions. [Feel free to recommend improvements to the text or links in this template] A - For a New Cluster use the following directions Subpages format requires a metadata page. Using the following instructions will complete the process of creating this article's subpages. Click the blue "metadata template" link below to create the page. On the edit page that appears paste in the article's title across from "pagename =". You might also fill out the checklist part of the form. Ignore the rest. For background, see Using the Subpages template Don't worry--you'll get the hang of it right away. Remember to hit Save! the "metadata template". However, you can create articles without subpages. Just delete the {{subpages}} template from the top of this page and this prompt will disappear. :) Don't feel obligated to use subpages, it's more important that you write sentences, which you can always do without writing fancy code. [Feel free to recommend improvements to the text or links in this template] B - For a Cluster Move use the following directions The metadata template should be moved to the new name as the first step. Please revert this move and start by using the Move Cluster link at the top left of the talk page. The name prior to this move can be found at the following link. [Feel free to recommend improvements to the text or links in this template]

---

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I	J	K	L	M	N	O	P	Q	R	S	T	U	V	W	X	Y	Z
Use in English
Alphabetical word list
Retroalphabetical list
Common misspellings

This page lists pronunciations of English words that begin with B. To see a different letter navigate with the table above. The apostrophe is treated as the last letter of the alphabet, after Z.

For a pronunciation key, click on the blue "Catalogs" link below the article title.^[e]

---

B = bê is = bêe insect

B-sîde, *bêesîde, cf. besîde

bàa sheep = bàh exclamation = BrE bàr drink, chocolate, soap

Bà’ath party BrE = bāth water = Bāth city

baboôn

bâby-boômer

Bàch music = bàch Welsh

báchelor unmarried = Bátchelor person

backbénch adjective one word

báckbiting one word

báckhand tennis

back-hánded ambiguous

bácklash one word

backyàrd one word

bád evil = báde asked

Bágehot = Bádgett

Baghdád BrE; AmE Bághdad Bágd-

Bahrâin: some sound the h separately after àh (BBC journalists try to but usually forget, as the hr consonant pairing does not occur in native English words)

bâil law, cricket = bâle hay, parachute

bâilie magistrate = Bâiley person (also Ôld Bâiley, London's law court)

bâit hook = bâte fury, restrain

bâize cloth = bâys bay

Bàli island = BrE bàrley beer

bålk

Bålkans cf. bálcony

båll game = båwl shout

ballerìna cf. pizzerìa

bállèt *bállây, cf. bállot

bàlm -àm

bàlmy sea = BrE bàrmy daft

Båltimore

báluster cf. bánister

bamboôzle

banàl BrE; AmE bânal

banálity

banāna

bánd music = bánned ban

bándwagon one word

Bangkók cf. Háncóck, both -ngk-

bánish

Baràk Ehud = Baràck Obama (though some British broadcasters pronounce Obama's first name like bárrack)

Bàrbara cf. Barbéra

barbãrian

barbáric

bàrbecûe *bàrbeqûe is a common error

Bàrça, short for Barcelôna

barcarólle or -óle

bàrd poet, bacon = bàrred bar

bãre naked = béãr animal, tolerate

bãrely

Bárenbŏim

bàrgaín *bàrgin

bàrley

bàrman one word

bàr mítzvah

bàrnacle

Bàrnstaple

bàrnstàr

báron nobleman = bárren bare = Bárron person

baróque BrE *bərók, AmE *barôke

bárrack, cf. Baràck = Baràk

bárràge -àzh BrE, AmE *bəràzh

bárrier

bàrtender

bâse basic = bâss treble, cf. báss fish = Báss person

Bàsel Switzerland, cf. Básil person

bâses base -ssíz = bâsses music

bâsês basis -ssêez

bâsic -ss-

Bâsie -ss- cf. Bássey (minimal pair)

bâsin -ss-

bâsis -ssíss

bāsk sun = Bāsque people

bāsketball one word

báss fish = Báss person

bâss treble = bâse basic

bassoôn (-ssoô-)

bâste pour, sew = bâsed located

batállion cf. báttle

bâte anger, breath = bâit lure

bāth = Bāth city cf. bâthe swim, final e signifying voiced th

bátón, one t, cf. Pátton, Hátton etc.

báttlefield one word

båulk (mostly British, billiards spelling of bålk)

båwdy

Baŷer, Baŷern

Báx person = bácks back

bazàar *bəzàr, cf. bizàrre, í

Bà’ath party BrE = bāth water

bê is = bêe insect

bêach sand = bêech tree

bêad string = Bêde person

bêan eat = bêen was

béãr tolerate, animal = bãre naked, cf. bêer drink, hêar listen

bêat win, hit, rhythm = bêet sugar

bêater beat BrE = bêta Greek

beátify saint *bê-át-, cf. Sêáttle *Sê-áttle and beaûtify beauty byû-

beátitude bê-át-

Bêatríce, Bêatrix, a as schwa: Bêə-

beau boyfriend = Bô Diddley

beaûty *byûty, rhymes and forms a minimal pair with dûty

because ó

Béchèt *Béshây

bêe insect = bê is

bêech tree = beâch sand

bêen was = bêan eat

bêer drink = bìêr coffin

bêet sugar = bêat hit

Bèethôven *Bâitovən

bêetle insect = Bêatle Beatles, cf. bêat rhythm, Bêtelgeûse

befŏrehand one word

behêmoth

behôve BrE; AmE behoôve

bèige *bâyzh

Beijíng *Bây-jíng; some say 'zh' for j

bêíng cf. Bíng

Beirût *Bây-roôt

Belarus: one would expect this post-Soviet word (once literally rendered as ‘White Russia’, and still called 'Weißrussland' in German) to regularise to *Bélərəs, with the u (as well as the a) as schwa, similar to Latinate names like Pándarus, Cërberus; but this hasn’t happened, and of the competing pronunciations in broadcast media, among them *Belərûs, *Belərùs, *Byélə-rûs, *Byélə-rùs, the first (*Bélla Roôse) is perhaps the most common

Belarússian, Belorûsian, etc., with various pronunciations, see preceding

Bélfāst

Bélgium *Béljəm country forms a minimal pair with Bélgian nationality

belîe cf. relŷ, belŷing, lîe

belìêve

Béllevûe

béllicôse

bellígerent -j-

béllow shout, bellows cf. belôw under

bélly

Bélvedêre

*belŷ belîe

Bénaud *Bénnô

bénefit

Bénettón

benévolent

Bengåli

benîgn -nîne

benígnant -nígnənt

Benìn -nêen

Beninêse

Bénjamin

Bénnett usually has two ts

Bénzedrìne

bécquerel or becquérel, -k-

bérèt *bérrây

bërk insult = Bürke person

Bërkelêy California cf. Bàrclaỳ person = BrE Berkeley person

Bërkshîre AmE; BrE *Bàkshə, as with bàrk dog, tree Bàrking town

Berlín but usually transferred stress in Bërlin Wåll

Bérne Switzerland = bãirn baby, or = bürn fire, brook

bérry fruit = bury ground = Bury town = Bérry person

bërth ship = bïrth born

bêta BrE; AmE bèta

Bêtelgeûse *Bêetlejûice

Bétjeman *Bétcheman

Béverley England, etc. = Béverly Hills, etc.

bewãre one word, cf. bê awãre

bewíldered BrE *biwíldəd, AmE *bêwíldərd

bezìque *bəzêek

Bhutàn

Bhutanêse

Bhùtto: this is the family's pronunciation, but since the death of Benazir the BBC and other broadcasters have taken to saying *Boôto

bî- two = bŷ preposition = bŷ- extra = bŷe cricket, goodbye = buŷ sell = bî bisexual

bîas

bîased (one s) *bîast, *bŷəst

bìdet *bêedây

bìêr corpse = bêer drink

bîght loop = bîte teeth

bígot rhymes with Píggott

Bíllie female = Bílly male = bílly goat

bîô-

biógraphy

biólogy

bîôpic

Bïrmingham BrE *Bïrmingəm, AmE *Bïrming-hám, g not sounded separately

bïrthdate one word

bïrthplace one word

bíscuit *bísket, cf. bāsket

bîson cf. bâsin

bîte food = bŷte computer = bîght loop

bizàrre *bí-zàr, cf. bazàar *bəzàr

bláckcurrant cf. cúrrent

bláckmail

blàh blàh blàh

blānch white = Blānche person

blancmange *bləmónzh

blãre noise = Blãir person

blâtant rhymes with pâtent

bléssed *blést; but mostly as attributive adjective: a *bléssíd thíng

blóc grouping = blóck prevent, wood, building

Bloemfontein *Blùmfontâyn

blónd male person, male and female adjective = blónde female person

blòodstained one word

blòodthirsty one word

blûe colour = bleŵ blow

blürred cf. cûred

bŏard wooden, directors = bŏred boring, cf. brŏad wide

bôast

bôat

Boàteng Bwà-

Boèhner *Bâyner cf. Groèning *Grâyning

Bôeing person = bôwing music

Boer *Bùer

bôgey golf, ghost = bôgie trolley, truck = Bôgey Bogart

Bogotá Spanish accent usually written; pronounced *Bogotà

Bŏisê

bôld brave = bôwled bowl

bôlder bold = bôulder rock

bôle tree = bôwl

Bólingbroke ends like broòk

Bóllywood

bôlt metal = Bôlt = Bôult persons

Bólton city, person = Bôulton person

bómb *bóm

Bombây

bómbing *bómming

bôna fîdê

bonhomìê, bonhommìê *bónóm-êe

boôgie-woôgie

boòk cf. búck

boòkcase one word: extended k sound

boòkkeeper one word: extended k sound

boòkshop one word

boôm (though usually boòm boòm)

boôn = Boône

boor rude = Boer South Africa *bùer or bŏre boring

boôst

Boôtes *Bwôtêz often has a diaeresis: Boötes

boôty spoils = boôtie boot

boôze drink = boôs boo

Bŏrdeaux *Bŏrdô, cf. Bardôt, *Bardô

bŏre boring, carried = bŏar animal

bŏred boring = bŏard wooden, directors

bŏredom *bŏrdum

Bŏrgia *Bŏrjə

bŏrn birth = bŏrne wind = bŏurn stream

bòrough town BrE -rə, AmE = búrrow earth

bosom *bùzəm

bôth

bóttleneck

boûgainvillea *bûgənvília

bòugh tree = bòw low, ship

Bóugh *Bóff

bôulder rock = bôlder bold = Bôulder Colorado

Boulogne *Bəlŏin

böurbon

bŏurgeois bŏrzhwà

bourgeoisìê bŏrzhwà-zêe

bŏurne stream = bŏrn birth = bŏrne carried

Bŏurnemouth *Bŏrnməth

bòw low, ship = bòugh tree

bôw knot, music, arrow = Bôw London

bòwel

bòwer tree = bàuer euchre

bôwl all other meanings = bôle tree

bóxing sport = Bóxing Day

bŏycott = Bŏycott

búffalo animal = Búffalo America

brâin head cf. Brîan person

brâinchîld one word

brâinwash one word

Brasília with an s pronounced 'z'

Brazíl with a z

bréad food = bréd breed

breâk smash, interval = brâke car

breâkaway adjective cf. breâk awây verb

breâkdown noun cf. breâk dòwn verb

bréakfast

breâkthroûgh noun *brâkethrû; cf. breâk throûgh verb

bréath noun unvoiced th, brêathe verb voiced th, cf. mòuth, same noun-verb distinction in pronunciation of the th, but always the same spelling

bréathtaking adjective one word

Brécon Wales cf. brácken plant (minimal pair)

bréd breed = bréad food

brêed animal cf. bréad food

bréthren -dhrən

breŵ

Brîan = Brŷan cf. brâin, O’Brîen (one is more likely to meet a Brian O'Brien than a Brien O'Brian)

brìêf

brîght -ît

Brísbane *Brízbən, rhymes with Lísbon

Brítain country -tən; = Bríton citizen, Brítten, Brítton, Bríttain persons

Bríttany France ≈ Brítney person

brŏad cf. bŏard = bŏred, BrE minimal pairs

bróccolì *bróckəlêy

Brómwich *Brómmidge

Brónte *Brónty; often written Brontë

broôch pin AmE; BrE = brôach speak

broôm sweep = brûme mist

bróthel unvoiced th

bròther voiced th

Bròúgh *Brúff

broûgham carriage = broôm sweep; or -gha- as schwa, *brûəm

broûhàhà

bròw

bròwbeat

bròwse rhymes with ròuse -z

Brûges = Brûgge *Brûzh

brûise contusion *brûze = breŵs beer

Bruneî

Brunél

Brússels

Buchánan Bùk-

Bucharést Bùk-

búck, Búck cf. boòk

búd = Búd

búddy = Búddy

Budapést

Bùddha -ùdə (cf. original spelling of Bùddah Récords)

Bùddhist -ùdi-

Buénos Aîres Argentina –ríz or Ãires *Ãríz, cf. Ãries Ram

bùffèt eat *bùffây

búffet hit, t sounded

buffoôn -ffoô-

Bûíck

buíld *bíld

buílding *bílding

Bulawâyo

Bulgãria

bùll

bùlletin

bùllshit one word

bùlwark

búmblebee cf. Dímbleby

buŏy sea = bŏy child

buŏyant *bŏyant

bürden load = Bürdon person

bûreau *byûrô, plural bûreaux, *bûrôz, cf. pólitburo

bureaucracy *byû-rócracy

bürger hamburger = bürgher business = Bërger person

bürgeoning

Bürma

bürn fire, stream = Bÿrne name cf. Bérne Switzerland

bürqa cf. bürger, BrE minimal pair

búrrow ground = AmE bòrôugh town cf. Búrrôughs person

bury ground = bérry tree = Bury England

bús transport = búss kiss

búsed driven or bússed = búst bosom, broke

búses plural, verb *bússes

bùsh

búsing -ss-

business *bízniss, cf. bíz, busy-ness being busy

businessman one word, bíz-

bússed or búsed driven = búst bosom, broken

busy bíz-

busybody *bízzybódy-, one word

busy-ness busy cf. business matter, both bíz-

bûte drug = beaût beautiful = Bûte Scotland

bútt head, joke, buttocks = bút however

bútterfly

buŷ sell = bŷ preposition = bŷ- incidental = bŷe cricket = bî- two = bî bisexual = Baŷh

bwàna

bŷe-bye!

bŷ-election

bŷ-product

Bÿrd person = bïrd fly

Býzantîne, Býzantìne, *Bŷ-zántîne, *Bŷ-zántíne

Byzántìum *Bŷ-zántìəm