How to pronounce besides
Say it like bih-SYDZ. Besides has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SYDZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce besides. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- SYDZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Besides 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.
- SYDZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of besides
American and British speakers say besides in essentially the same way: /bɪˈsaɪdz/ in the US and /bɪˈsaɪdz/ in the UK.
British respelling: bih-SYDZ.
What does besides mean?
- making an additional point; anyway“I don't want to go to a restaurant; besides, we can't afford it”“she couldn't shelter behind him all the time and in any case he wasn't always with her”
- in addition“he has a Mercedes, too”
Where does besides come from?
From Middle English bisides (also bisiden), extension of biside, equivalent to beside + -s (adverbial suffix).
Questions about saying besides
How do you pronounce besides?
Say bih-SYDZ. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈsaɪdz/. In British English it is /bɪˈsaɪdz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in besides?
Besides has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SYDZ). Broken into parts: bih · SYDZ.
Do Americans and Brits say besides the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bɪˈsaɪdz/ and the British form is /bɪˈsaɪdz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.