How to pronounce bet
Say it like BET. Bet is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bet. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BET
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bet pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of bet
American and British speakers say bet in essentially the same way: /bɛt/ in the US and /bɛt/ in the UK.
British respelling: BET.
What does bet mean?
- maintain with or as if with a bet“I bet she will be there!”
- stake on the outcome of an issue“I bet $100 on that new horse”“She played all her money on the dark horse”
- have faith or confidence in“you can count on me to help you any time”“Look to your friends for support”
- the money risked on a gamble
- the act of gambling“he did it on a bet”
Where does bet come from?
From 16th-century criminal slang, perhaps from Middle English bet (“something better, advantage, luck”), from Old English bet, bett (“better”, adverb); or, alternatively from abet, from Middle English abet, abette, from Old French abet (“in
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with bet
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bet.
Questions about saying bet
How do you pronounce bet?
Say BET. The American pronunciation is /bɛt/. In British English it is /bɛt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bet?
Bet is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BET.
Do Americans and Brits say bet the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /bɛt/ and the British form is /bɛt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.