How to pronounce beleaguered
Say it like bih-LEE-gherd. Beleaguered has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce beleaguered. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- LEE
- gherd
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Beleaguered 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.
- LEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- gherdKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of beleaguered
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: bih-LEE-gud.
What does beleaguered mean?
- Besieged; surrounded by enemy troops.“a beleaguered stronghold”
- Beset by trouble or difficulty.“a beleaguered ego”
- simple past and past participle of beleaguer How to pronounce beleaguer
Where does beleaguered come from?
From beleaguer + -ed.
Questions about saying beleaguered
How do you pronounce beleaguered?
Say bih-LEE-gherd. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈliɡɚd/. In British English it is /bɪˈliːɡəd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in beleaguered?
Beleaguered has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEE). Broken into parts: bih · LEE · gherd.
Is beleaguered pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /bɪˈliːɡəd/ (bih-LEE-gud).