English pronunciation · Words Starting with B
Byzantine Pronunciation
Byzantine is pronounced BI-zuhn-tyn, IPA /ˈbɪzənˌtaɪn/.
BI-zuhn-tyn
US /ˈbɪzənˌtaɪn/ · UK /bɪˈzɑːntiːn/
Syllables: BI · zuhn · tyn (3 syllables, stress on syllable 1)
adjective: Relating to the eastern Roman empire, or, in lower case, excessively complicated.
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Byzantine in a Sentence
- Byzantine mosaics cover the whole apse.
- The rules for claiming it are byzantine.
- He wrote a history of the Byzantine navy.
Common Mispronunciations of Byzantine
Not bi-ZAN-teen
Americans front the stress and end with the eye of nine, giving BI-zuhn-tyn. Both patterns are standard, which is why speakers disagree so often.
Not BY-zan-tyn
The opening by is the short i of bit, not the word by. Nothing at the front of this word is long.
Tip: Four current readings circulate, differing in stress and in the final vowel. Pick one and use it consistently.
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