How to pronounce byword
Say it like BY-werd. Byword has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce byword. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BY
- werd
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Byword pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- werdKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of byword
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BY-wud.
What does byword mean?
- A proverb or proverbial expression, common saying; a frequently used word or phrase.
- A characteristic word or expression; a word or phrase associated with a person or group.
- Someone or something that stands as an example (i.e. metonymically) for something else, by having some of that something's characteristic traits.
Where does byword come from?
From Middle English byword, byworde (“proverb”), from Old English bīword, bīwyrd, bīwyrde (“proverb, household word", also "adverb”), from Proto-West Germanic *bīwurdī, equivalent to by- + word.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with byword
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of byword.
Questions about saying byword
How do you pronounce byword?
Say BY-werd. The American pronunciation is /ˈbaɪwɚd/. In British English it is /ˈbaɪwəd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in byword?
Byword has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BY). Broken into parts: BY · werd.
Is byword 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 /ˈbaɪwəd/ (BY-wud).