English pronunciation · Words Starting with B
Bienvenue Pronunciation
Bienvenue is pronounced buhn-VAYN-we, IPA /bənˈveɪnwɛ/.
buhn-VAYN-we
US /bənˈveɪnwɛ/
Syllables: buhn · VAYN · we (3 syllables, stress on syllable 2)
interjection: The French word for welcome, often seen on signs in Quebec and France.
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Bienvenue in a Sentence
- A sign reading Bienvenue greets drivers at the border.
- She wrote Bienvenue in chalk above the door.
- Bienvenue is the first word in every Quebec tourist leaflet.
Common Mispronunciations of Bienvenue
Not bee-en-VEN-yoo
The ue at the end is one rounded vowel and never an English yoo. French puts the lips in an oo shape while the tongue stays where it would be for ee.
Not BYAN-vuh-noo
The punch lands late, on the VAYN, and nothing in front of it is loud. French gives its final syllable the weight as a matter of course.
Tip: A closer French reading is byan-vuh-NU, with the opening nasalised and no English n actually sounded.
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