English pronunciation · Words Starting with B

Business Pronunciation

Business is pronounced BIZ-nuhs, IPA /ˈbɪznəs/.

BIZ-nuhs

US /ˈbɪznəs/  ·  UK /ˈbɪznəs/

Syllables: BIZ · nuhs (2 syllables, stress on syllable 1)

noun: The activity of making and selling goods or services, or a company that does so.

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Business in a Sentence

  • She runs a small business from the back room.
  • Business has been slow since the bypass opened.
  • That is none of your business.

Common Mispronunciations of Business

Not BI-zi-nuhs

The middle vowel disappeared centuries ago and never came back. Two syllables is the whole word.

Not BUS-i-nes

The s in the first syllable buzzes as a z, and the vowel is the short i of bid rather than the u of bus.

Tip: Busy has two syllables and so does business, but the i in the middle of the longer word is silent.

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