How to pronounce betacism
Say it like BEE-tuh-siz-um. Betacism has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce betacism. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BEE
- tuh
- siz
- um
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Betacism pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- sizGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- umKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of betacism
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: BEE-tuh-siz-um.
What does betacism mean?
- A sound change in which [b] (the voiced bilabial plosive) shifts to [v] (the voiced labiodental fricative).“Betacism is a fairly common phenomenon: it has taken place in Greek, Hebrew, Spanish, and some Portuguese dialects, among others.”
- A speech disorder involving excessive use of the [b] sound, or conversion of other sounds into it.
Where does betacism come from?
From beta + -cism (“phenomenon related to a specific phoneme”).
Questions about saying betacism
How do you pronounce betacism?
Say BEE-tuh-siz-um. The American pronunciation is /ˈbitəˌsɪzəm/. In British English it is /ˈbiːtəˌsɪzəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in betacism?
Betacism has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BEE). Broken into parts: BEE · tuh · siz · um.
Is betacism pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈbiːtəˌsɪzəm/ (BEE-tuh-siz-um).