English pronunciation · Words Starting with B

Benign Pronunciation

Benign is pronounced bi-NYN, IPA /bɪˈnaɪn/.

bi-NYN

US /bɪˈnaɪn/  ·  UK /bɪˈnaɪn/

Syllables: bi · NYN (2 syllables, stress on syllable 2)

adjective: Gentle and harmless, and in medicine, not cancerous.

Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.

Benign in a Sentence

  • The lump turned out to be benign.
  • He has a benign, unhurried way of asking questions.
  • Inflation stayed at a benign level all year.

Common Mispronunciations of Benign

Not buh-NIG-nuh

The g makes no sound here, just as it stays quiet in sign, design and resign. It only returns in benignity, where the stress shifts.

Not BE-nyn

The weight sits on the second syllable and the first shrinks to a light bi.

Tip: Benign rhymes with sign and align, never with begin.

More words starting with b · Every word in the pronunciation guide