How to pronounce behold
Say it like bih-HOHLD. Behold has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HOHLD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce behold. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- HOHLD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Behold 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.
- HOHLDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of behold
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: bih-HOHLD.
What does behold mean?
- see with attention“behold Christ!”
Where does behold come from?
From Middle English biholden, from Old English behealdan (“to hold, possess, preserve, belong, keep, observe, look at, take care, beware, be cautious, restrain, act, behave”), from Proto-West Germanic *bihaldan (“to hold with, keep”), equivalent to be- + hold.
Words that rhyme with behold
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of behold.
Questions about saying behold
How do you pronounce behold?
Say bih-HOHLD. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈhoʊld/. In British English it is /bɪˈhəʊld/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in behold?
Behold has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HOHLD). Broken into parts: bih · HOHLD.
Is behold pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /bɪˈhəʊld/ (bih-HOHLD).