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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

beautiful

/ˈbjutəfəl/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:57
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Start with a strong “byoo.”

Join b, a y-like glide, and oo at the start. Keep the next two vowels light and finish with l.

3 syllables · Stress on syllable 1

TRY SAYING
The view was beautiful in the morning light.

APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

What does beautiful mean?

adjective

  1. Possessing beauty, impressing the eye; attractive.
  2. Used emphatically or ironically, after the noun it qualifies.
  3. That one likes very much.
More meanings (3)

adjective

  1. Affording pleasure to any of the senses, especially that of hearing; delightful.
  2. Impressing with charm in an intellectual or moral way, through inherent suitability or elegance.

noun

  1. Someone who is beautiful. Can be used as a term of address.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈbjutəfəl/

Pronunciation used in the listening tip.

CMU Pronouncing Dictionary

Other dictionary pronunciations

/ˈbju.tɪ.fəl/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

A sudden look of alarm came into its beautiful brown eyes, and in another moment it had darted away at full speed.
Lewis CarrollThrough the Looking-GlassProject Gutenberg ebook #12
The house was quite beautiful, and no doubt Wendy was very cosy within, though, of course, they could no longer see her.
J. M. (James Matthew) BarriePeter Pan : $b [Peter and Wendy]Project Gutenberg ebook #16
More book examples (3)
She landed safely on the other side, and looked up at the beautiful though pale and weary face of her young mistress.
Thomas HardyFar from the Madding CrowdProject Gutenberg ebook #27
They were tall, strong, healthy, and beautiful as a race, but differed individually in a wide range of feature, coloring, and expression.
Charlotte Perkins GilmanHerlandProject Gutenberg ebook #32
“So this is my little son’s ‘beautiful teacher,’ of whom I have heard so much,” said Mr. Irving with a hearty handshake.
L. M. (Lucy Maud) MontgomeryAnne of AvonleaProject Gutenberg ebook #47