How To Pronounce Behave

behave

Phonemic

/bɪˈheɪv/

Phonetic

[bɪˈheɪv]

Phonemic

/bɪˈheɪv/

In British English, behave is pronounced /bɪˈheɪv/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [bɪˈheɪv]. In American English, it is pronounced /bɪˈheɪv/.

Behave has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second syllable. British and American speakers say it the same way.

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.

Syllables, Stress And Endings

Syllables And Stress

bɪheɪv

Behave has two syllables in British English, and the main stress is on the second syllable, shown in colour above. Its stress pattern is oO, where O is the stressed syllable.

behave + -s

-s (plural, possessive or singular verb) is /z/ after a voiced consonant or a vowel sound.

/bɪˈheɪvz/

behave + -ed

-ed (past tense or past participle) is /d/ after a voiced consonant or a vowel sound.

/bɪˈheɪvd/

behave + -ing

-ing is always /ɪŋ/.

/bɪˈheɪ.vɪŋ/

Words That Rhyme With Behave

Questions About Behave

How do you pronounce behave in British English?

In British English, behave is pronounced /bɪˈheɪv/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [bɪˈheɪv].

How do you pronounce behave in American English?

In American English, behave is pronounced /bɪˈheɪv/.

How many syllables are in behave?

Behave has two syllables, /bɪ/ + /heɪv/.

Where is the stress in behave?

The main stress is on the second syllable, /heɪv/.

Do British and American English pronounce behave the same way?

Yes. Both are /bɪˈheɪv/.

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Other Words With The Stress Pattern oO

Nearby Words

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