How to pronounce befriend
Say it like bih-FREND. Befriend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FREND).
- bih
- FREND
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Befriend pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- bihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- FRENDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of befriend
American and British speakers say befriend in essentially the same way: /bɪˈfrɛnd/ in the US and /bɪˈfrɛnd/ in the UK.
British respelling: bih-FREND.
What does befriend mean?
- To become a friend of (someone), to make friends with (someone).
- To act as a friend to (someone, especially a client) by providing companionship and support; to assist, to help.
- To benefit or favour (someone or something); also, to advocate or promote (someone or something).
Where does befriend come from?
* West Frisian befreone (“befriended”)
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
- alienate
- befoe
- defriend
Words that rhyme with befriend
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of befriend.
Questions about saying befriend
How do you pronounce befriend?
Say bih-FREND. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈfrɛnd/. In British English it is /bɪˈfrɛnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in befriend?
Befriend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FREND). Broken into parts: bih · FREND.
Do Americans and Brits say befriend the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bɪˈfrɛnd/ and the British form is /bɪˈfrɛnd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.