How to pronounce better
Say it like BET-er. Better has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce better. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BET
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Better 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.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of better
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: BET-uh.
What does better mean?
- surpass in excellence“She bettered her own record”“break a record”
- to make better“The editor improved the manuscript with his changes”
- get better“The weather improved toward evening”
- (comparative of good) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another“You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din”“a better coat”
- (comparative of good) changed for the better in health or fitness“her health is better now”“I feel better”
- (comparative and superlative of well) wiser or more advantageous and hence advisable“it would be better to speak to him”“the White House thought it best not to respond”
- comparative of well; in a better or more excellent manner or more advantageously or attractively or to a greater degree etc.“She had never sung better”“a deed better left undone”
- from a position of superiority or authority“father knows best”“I know better.”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with better
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of better.
Questions about saying better
How do you pronounce better?
Say BET-er. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɛtɚ/. In British English it is /ˈbɛtə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in better?
Better has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BET). Broken into parts: BET · er.
Is better pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈbɛtə/ (BET-uh).