How to pronounce beau
Say it like BOH. Beau is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce beau. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Beau pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of beau
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BOH.
What does beau mean?
- a man who is the lover of a man or woman“if I'd known he was her boyfriend I wouldn't have asked”“When the law changed, Pet could finally married his long-time boyfriend Jim”
- a man who is much concerned with his dress and appearance
Where does beau come from?
From Middle English beau, beu, bew, bewe, from Old French beau, from Latin bellus (“beautiful”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with beau
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of beau.
Words that sound like beau
Questions about saying beau
How do you pronounce beau?
Say BOH. The American pronunciation is /boʊ/. In British English it is /bəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in beau?
Beau is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BOH.
Is beau pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /bəʊ/ (BOH).
What words sound the same as beau?
Beau sounds the same as bow in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.