How to pronounce below
Say it like bih-LOH. Below has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOH).
VoiceSpeed
US American/bɪˈloʊ/bih-LOH
UK British/bɪˈləʊ/bih-LOH
- bih
- LOH
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Below 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.
- LOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of below
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: bih-LOH.
What does below mean?
preposition
- Lower in spatial position than.“The treasure is buried two meters below the surface.”
- Lower than in value, price, rank, concentration, etc.“The temperature is below zero.”
- Downstream of.“The River Thames is tidal below Teddington Lock.”
- In or to a lower place.“The town is situated on a hillside, with a river running below.”
- On or to a lower storey.“She lives below, on the ground floor.”
- On or to a lower deck, especially as relative to the main deck.“The captain went below to inspect the engine.”
Where does below come from?
From Middle English bilooghe, equivalent to be- + low.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- beneath
- under
- underneath
- downstream
- downstairs
- downwards
- at a lower place
- to a lower place
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with below
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of below.
Questions about saying below
How do you pronounce below?
Say bih-LOH. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈloʊ/. In British English it is /bɪˈləʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in below?
Below has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOH). Broken into parts: bih · LOH.
Is below 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 /bɪˈləʊ/ (bih-LOH).