How to pronounce bonfires
Say it like BON-fy-erz. Bonfires has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bonfires. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BON
- fy
- erz
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bonfires pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- fyGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- erzKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of bonfires
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: BON-fy-uz.
What does bonfires mean?
- plural of bonfire How to pronounce bonfire
- third-person singular simple present indicative of bonfire How to pronounce bonfire
Questions about saying bonfires
How do you pronounce bonfires?
Say BON-fy-erz. The American pronunciation is /ˈbɑnˌfaɪɚz/. In British English it is /ˈbɒnˌfaɪəz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bonfires?
Bonfires has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BON). Broken into parts: BON · fy · erz.
Is bonfires 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 /ˈbɒnˌfaɪəz/ (BON-fy-uz).