How to pronounce bougainvillea
Say it like boo-gun-VIL-yuh. Bougainvillea has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VIL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bougainvillea. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- boo
- gun
- VIL
- yuh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bougainvillea pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- booGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- gunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VILSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- yuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of bougainvillea
- American English uses 4 syllables and British English 5.
British respelling: boo-gun-VIL-ih-uh.
What does bougainvillea mean?
- Any of several South American flowering shrubs or lianas, of the genus Bougainvillea, having three showy, colorful bracts attached below each group of three inconspicuous flowers.
Where does bougainvillea come from?
From taxonomic name Bougainvillea, from French Bougainville + -a.
Words that rhyme with bougainvillea
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of bougainvillea.
Questions about saying bougainvillea
How do you pronounce bougainvillea?
Say boo-gun-VIL-yuh. The American pronunciation is /ˌbuɡənˈvɪljə/. In British English it is /ˌbuːɡənˈvɪlɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bougainvillea?
Bougainvillea has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VIL). Broken into parts: boo · gun · VIL · yuh.
Is bougainvillea pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 4 syllables and British English 5. The British form is /ˌbuːɡənˈvɪlɪə/ (boo-gun-VIL-ih-uh).