How to pronounce Budapest
Say it like BOO-duh-pest. Budapest has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Budapest. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BOO
- duh
- pest
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Budapest pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- duhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- pestGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of Budapest
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 3.
- British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune).
British respelling: byoo-duh-PEST.
What does Budapest mean?
- The capital and the most populous city of Hungary.
Where does Budapest come from?
Borrowed from Hungarian Budapest, from Buda + Pest.
Questions about saying Budapest
How do you pronounce Budapest?
Say BOO-duh-pest. The American pronunciation is /ˈbudəˌpɛst/. In British English it is /ˌbjuːdəˈpɛst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Budapest?
Budapest has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BOO). Broken into parts: BOO · duh · pest.
Is Budapest pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 3. The British form is /ˌbjuːdəˈpɛst/ (byoo-duh-PEST).