How to pronounce bodhisattva
Say it like boh-dee-SUHT-vuh. Bodhisattva has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SUHT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bodhisattva. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- boh
- dee
- SUHT
- vuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bodhisattva pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- bohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- SUHTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- vuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of bodhisattva
American and British speakers say bodhisattva in essentially the same way: /boʊdiˈsʌtvə/ in the US and /ˌbɒdɪˈsætvə/ in the UK.
British respelling: bod-ih-SAT-vuh.
What does bodhisattva mean?
- A person who has taken specific lay or monastic vows and who is on the road to perfect knowledge; specifically, one who foregoes personal nirvana in order to help others achieve enlightenment.
- An enlightened being existing in a form of existence beyond the ordinary forms of physical reality understood and acknowledged by scientific thought, resembling the Western notion of angels, but with a wealth of its own nuances and expectations. These include the compassionate working for enlightenm
Questions about saying bodhisattva
How do you pronounce bodhisattva?
Say boh-dee-SUHT-vuh. The American pronunciation is /boʊdiˈsʌtvə/. In British English it is /ˌbɒdɪˈsætvə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bodhisattva?
Bodhisattva has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (SUHT). Broken into parts: boh · dee · SUHT · vuh.
Do Americans and Brits say bodhisattva the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /boʊdiˈsʌtvə/ and the British form is /ˌbɒdɪˈsætvə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.