How to pronounce behave
Say it like bih-HAYV. Behave has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HAYV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce behave. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- HAYV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Behave 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.
- HAYVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of behave
American and British speakers say behave in essentially the same way: /bɪˈheɪv/ in the US and /bɪˈheɪv/ in the UK.
British respelling: bih-HAYV.
What does behave mean?
- behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself“You should act like an adult”“Don't behave like a fool”
- behave in a certain manner“She carried herself well”“he bore himself with dignity”
- behave well or properly“The children must learn to behave”
Where does behave come from?
From Middle English behaven, bihabben (“to restrain, behave”), from Old English behabban (“to surround, embrace, hold, contain, hold back, withhold, restrain”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihabbjan, equivalent to be- + have.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with behave
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of behave.
Questions about saying behave
How do you pronounce behave?
Say bih-HAYV. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈheɪv/. In British English it is /bɪˈheɪv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in behave?
Behave has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HAYV). Broken into parts: bih · HAYV.
Do Americans and Brits say behave the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bɪˈheɪv/ and the British form is /bɪˈheɪv/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.