How to pronounce beholden
Say it like bih-HOHL-dun. Beholden has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HOHL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce beholden. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- HOHL
- dun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Beholden 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.
- HOHLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- dunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of beholden
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: bih-HOHL-dun.
What does beholden mean?
- Obligated to provide, display, or do something for another; indebted, obliged for a bounden duty.“From an early age, I had decided I wanted to be beholden to no one.”
Where does beholden come from?
From Middle English biholden (“beholden, obligated”), past participle of biholden (“to behold, look at”, modern behold), though that verb does not mean "to bind, obligate".
Words that rhyme with beholden
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of beholden.
Questions about saying beholden
How do you pronounce beholden?
Say bih-HOHL-dun. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈhoʊldən/. In British English it is /bɪˈhəʊldən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in beholden?
Beholden has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HOHL). Broken into parts: bih · HOHL · dun.
Is beholden 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 /bɪˈhəʊldən/ (bih-HOHL-dun).