How to pronounce behemoth
Say it like BEE-huh-muth. Behemoth has three 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 behemoth. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BEE
- huh
- muth
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Behemoth 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.
- huhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- muthKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of behemoth
American and British speakers say behemoth in essentially the same way: /ˈbihəməθ/ in the US and /ˈbiːhəməθ/ in the UK.
British respelling: BEE-huh-muth.
Other ways to say behemoth
Behemoth also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- buh-HEE-muth /bəˈhiməθ/
What does behemoth mean?
- A great and mighty beast which God shows to Job in Job 40:15–24.
- Any great and mighty monster.
- Something which has the qualities of great power and might, and monstrous proportions.
Where does behemoth come from?
Some have instead suggested a borrowing from a hypothetical Egyptian pA-i-H-E1-mw (*pꜣ-jḥ-mw, “hippopotamus”, literally “the ox of the water”), from pꜣ (“definite article”) + jḥ (“ox, cattle”) + mw (“water”) in a direct genitive constructio
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying behemoth
How do you pronounce behemoth?
Say BEE-huh-muth. The American pronunciation is /ˈbihəməθ/. In British English it is /ˈbiːhəməθ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in behemoth?
Behemoth has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEE). Broken into parts: BEE · huh · muth.
Do Americans and Brits say behemoth the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbihəməθ/ and the British form is /ˈbiːhəməθ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.