How to pronounce bayou
Say it like BY-oo. Bayou has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bayou. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BY
- oo
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bayou pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- ooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of bayou
American and British speakers say bayou in essentially the same way: /ˈbaɪu/ in the US and /ˈbaɪuː/ in the UK.
British respelling: BY-oo.
What does bayou mean?
- A slow-moving, often stagnant creek or river.
- A swamp; a marshy (stagnant) body of water.
Where does bayou come from?
From Louisiana French bayou, from Choctaw bayuk (“a creek”).
Questions about saying bayou
How do you pronounce bayou?
Say BY-oo. The American pronunciation is /ˈbaɪu/. In British English it is /ˈbaɪuː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bayou?
Bayou has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BY). Broken into parts: BY · oo.
Do Americans and Brits say bayou the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbaɪu/ and the British form is /ˈbaɪuː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.