How to pronounce bivouac
Say it like BIV-wak. Bivouac has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BIV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bivouac. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BIV
- wak
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bivouac pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BIVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- wakKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of bivouac
American and British speakers say bivouac in essentially the same way: /ˈbɪvwæk/ in the US and /ˈbɪvwæk/ in the UK.
British respelling: BIV-wak.
What does bivouac mean?
- An encampment for the night, usually without tents or covering.
- Any temporary encampment.
- A temporary shelter constructed generally for a few nights.
- To set up camp.“We'll bivouac here tonight.”
- To watch at night or be on guard, as a whole army.
- To encamp for the night without tents or covering.
Where does bivouac come from?
Unadapted borrowing from French bivouac (earlier biouac, bivac), from Alemannic German Biiwacht (“reinforcements of guard or town watch”), from bii- + Wacht (“watch, guard”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying bivouac
How do you pronounce bivouac?
Say BIV-wak. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɪvwæk/. In British English it is /ˈbɪvwæk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bivouac?
Bivouac has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BIV). Broken into parts: BIV · wak.
Do Americans and Brits say bivouac the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbɪvwæk/ and the British form is /ˈbɪvwæk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.