How to pronounce downbeat
Say it like down-BEET. Downbeat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BEET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce downbeat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- down
- BEET
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Downbeat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- downKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- BEETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of downbeat
American and British speakers say downbeat in essentially the same way: /daʊnˈbit/ in the US and /daʊnˈbiːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: down-BEET.
What does downbeat mean?
- The accented beat at the beginning of a bar (indicated by a conductor with a downward stroke).
- Sad or pessimistic.“He sounded downbeat when asked about his future plans.”
- Cautiously optimistic.“She carried herself with a quiet downbeat grace.”
Where does downbeat come from?
From down + beat.
Words that rhyme with downbeat
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of downbeat.
Questions about saying downbeat
How do you pronounce downbeat?
Say down-BEET. The American pronunciation is /daʊnˈbit/. In British English it is /daʊnˈbiːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in downbeat?
Downbeat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BEET). Broken into parts: down · BEET.
Do Americans and Brits say downbeat the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /daʊnˈbit/ and the British form is /daʊnˈbiːt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.