How to pronounce bento
Say it like BEN-toh. Bento has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bento. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BEN
- toh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bento pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of bento
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: BEN-toh.
What does bento mean?
- A Japanese takeaway lunch served in a box, often with the food arranged into an elaborate design.
- Synonym of bento box (“a partitioned, traditionally lacquered, lunchbox in which a Japanese takeaway lunch is served”).
- A generic meal packed in a disposable bento box.
Words that rhyme with bento
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bento.
Questions about saying bento
How do you pronounce bento?
Say BEN-toh. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɛnˌtoʊ/. In British English it is /ˈbɛntəʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bento?
Bento has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEN). Broken into parts: BEN · toh.
Is bento 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 /ˈbɛntəʊ/ (BEN-toh).