How to pronounce bebop
Say it like BEE-bop. Bebop has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bebop. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BEE
- bop
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bebop pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- bopKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of bebop
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: BEE-bop.
What does bebop mean?
- An early form of modern jazz played by small groups and featuring driving rhythms and complex, often dissonant harmonies.
- To participate in bebop jazz, such as by dancing in a way associated with the genre.
- To walk in an easygoing, carefree manner.
Where does bebop come from?
Alteration of earlier rebop, nonsense syllables used in scat singing in the 1940s.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying bebop
How do you pronounce bebop?
Say BEE-bop. The American pronunciation is /ˈbibɑp/. In British English it is /ˈbiːbɒp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bebop?
Bebop has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEE). Broken into parts: BEE · bop.
Is bebop pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈbiːbɒp/ (BEE-bop).