How to pronounce betoken
Say it like bih-TOH-kun. Betoken has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TOH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce betoken. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- bih
- TOH
- kun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Betoken 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.
- TOHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- kunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of betoken
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: bih-TOH-kun.
What does betoken mean?
- To signify by some visible object; show by signs or tokens.
- To foreshow by present signs; indicate something in the future by that which is seen or known.
Where does betoken come from?
From Middle English bitoknen, bitacnen, from Old English betācnian (“to betoken, signify, designate”), from Proto-West Germanic *bitaiknijan.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with betoken
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of betoken.
Questions about saying betoken
How do you pronounce betoken?
Say bih-TOH-kun. The American pronunciation is /bɪˈtoʊkən/. In British English it is /bɪˈtəʊkən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in betoken?
Betoken has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TOH). Broken into parts: bih · TOH · kun.
Is betoken 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 /bɪˈtəʊkən/ (bih-TOH-kun).