How to pronounce began
Say it like bih-GAN. Began has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce began. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- GAN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Began 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.
- GANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of began
American and British speakers say began in essentially the same way: /bɪˈɡæn/ in the US and /bɪˈɡæn/ in the UK.
British respelling: bih-GAN.
What does began mean?
- simple past of begin How to pronounce begin
Words that rhyme with began
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of began.
Questions about saying began
How do you pronounce began?
Say bih-GAN. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈɡæn/. In British English it is /bɪˈɡæn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in began?
Began has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GAN). Broken into parts: bih · GAN.
Do Americans and Brits say began the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bɪˈɡæn/ and the British form is /bɪˈɡæn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.