3 syllables: be, gin, ner. Stress on gin.
big-IN-ur
/bɪˈɡɪnɚ/
beginner is pronounced big-IN-ur (/bɪˈɡɪnɚ/). It has three syllables (be-gin-ner), with the stress on "gin". A person who is new to a task, activity, or field and has limited experience. The term usually signals early-stage involvement and the potential to learn quickly, with room for skill development and growth as expertise increases over time.
A person who is new to a task, activity, or field and has limited experience. The term usually signals early-stage involvement and the potential to learn quickly, with room for skill development and growth as expertise increases over time.
- You might flatten the second syllable and say be-GIN-ner with weak stress; instead hold the primary stress on the second syllable and release a crisp /ɪ/ before /n/. - Final syllable often becomes a weak /ə/ or /ɹ̩/ that blends; practice elongating the second syllable slightly and tapering to a short final /ə/ or /ər/ depending on your accent. - Some learners mispronounce /dʒ/ as /g/ or /j/; train your mouth to produce the /dʒ/ onset with the tongue tip behind the upper teeth and a quick release. - Avoid adding extra vowels in the second syllable; keep it tight: /ɪ/ then /n/ then a quick schwa. - Do not over-aspirate the first syllable; keep it light so the stressed second syllable stands out.
"As a beginner, join the introductory class to learn the basics."
"The app offers tutorials for beginners to build confidence before tackling advanced features."
"She felt nervous on her first day, but her fellow beginners were supportive."
Pronounced be-GIN-ner with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /bɪˈɡɪnər/, UK /bɪˈdʒɪnə/, AU /bɪˈdʒɪnə/. Start with a light /b/ onset, then the stressed /ɪ/ in the second syllable, followed by /ɡ/ or /dʒ/ depending on accent, a schwa or short /ɪ/ in the final syllable, and a soft final /ər/ in rhotic accents. Keep the jaw relaxed and the mouth slightly open for the central vowel in /ər/.
Common errors: misplacing the stress on the first syllable (be-GIN-ner vs. beGIN-ner); mispronouncing /ɡ/ as /dʒ/ in the onset of the second syllable (bɪˈdʒɪnər vs. bɪˈɡɪnər); final syllable reduced too strongly or omitted (be-GIN-er). Correction: keep the second syllable as the nucleus with a crisp /ɪ/ and a clear /n/ before the final schwa; ensure the second syllable carries primary stress and the final /ər/ is compact but audible, especially in careful speech.
US: clear /ɡ/ release and pronounced /bɪˈɡɪnər/ with a rhotic final /r/. UK: often /bɪˈdʒɪnə/ with a non-rhotic /r/ and a lighter /dʒ/ realization; AU: /bɪˈdʒɪnə/ similar to UK, often with vowel qualities leaning toward a centralized /ə/ in non-rhotic contexts. The second syllable vowel can shift: US /ɪ/ vs. UK /ɪ/ but with subtle vowel shortening; final syllable tends to be reduced in rapid speech in all, though rhotic accents keep the /r/ audible.
Key challenges include the stressed second syllable with /ɪ/ followed by /n/ plus a fast /ər/ sequence; the onset of the second syllable features a /dʒ/ or /ɡ/ depending on locale, which can be misarticulated as /ɡɪ/ or /dʒɪ/. Learners often overaccent the ending, producing /ər/ as a full vowel rather than a reduced schwa-like sound. Practicing the exact sequence b-ɪ-ˈdʒɪ-nə or b-ɪ-ˈɡɪ-nər with controlled vowel length helps solidify the rhythm.
A unique nuance is the potential variation of the second syllable onset: in many American varieties the /g/ is affricated as /dʒ/ after /ɪ/ (beGINner). In careful speech, speakers may voice the /dʒ/ clearly, while in casual speech, it can be slightly more fricative or blurred with /j/ quality. Focusing on delivering a clean /dʒ/ or /ɡ/ depending on accent helps maintain recognizability across contexts.
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- US: emphasize the /ɡ/ release and rhotic /ər/; keep /ɜr/ in rhotic contexts. - UK: non-rhotic /r/, final vowel lighter, possibly /ə/; ensure the /dʒ/ or /g/ onset of the second syllable is precise. - AU: similar to UK with slightly broader vowel qualities; watch for centering of the final vowel and a more pronounced /j/ transition if you use /dʒ/. IPA anchors: US bɪˈɡɪnər, UK bɪˈdʒɪnə, AU bɪˈdʒɪnə.
The word beginner traces to Middle English beginnen, meaning to start or to cause to start, from Old English biginan or begenian, variants aligned with the verb for starting an action. The form began to be used as a noun in the sense of 'one who begins' by the 14th century. The suffix -er in English commonly marks the doer of an action, evolving from Old French -er, with parallels in place names and occupational terms. The semantic arc moves from the act of beginning to denoting someone who is at the early stage of learning a skill or occupation. The term gained contemporary prominence in education and training realms from the 19th century onward, aligning with constructs like beginner’s courses or beginner-level exams. Its usage expands in modern contexts to describe anyone newly engaged in an activity, reflecting the universal experience of starting points and growth.
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Words that rhyme with "beginner"
-ner sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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