How To Pronounce “been”

been

function word

Strong form

Used at the end of speech, or for emphasis.

Phonemic

/biːn/

Phonetic

[bĩːn]

e.g. Where have you been?

/weə.həv.juˈbiːn/

Phonemic

/bɪn/

e.g. Where have you been?

/wer.həv.juˈbɪn/

Weak form

Used in connected speech.

Phonemic

/bɪn/

Phonetic

[bɪ̃n]

e.g. I have been ill.

/aɪ.həv.bɪnˈɪl/

Phonemic

/bɪn/

e.g. I have been ill.

/aɪ.həv.bɪnˈɪl/

“been” is a function word, so it has more than one pronunciation. In normal connected speech the weak form is usual. The strong form is used when the word is stressed, said on its own or at the end of a phrase.

Strong form. In British English it is /biːn/, and in American English it is /bɪn/. It is used at the end of speech, or for emphasis.

Weak form. In British English it is /bɪn/, and in American English it is /bɪn/. It is used in connected speech.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.

Questions About Been

How do you pronounce been in British English?

Strong form, /biːn/. Weak form, /bɪn/.

How do you pronounce been in American English?

Strong form, /bɪn/. Weak form, /bɪn/.

What is the weak form of been?

The weak form of been is /bɪn/ in British English. It is the usual form in connected speech.

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