2 syllables: Be, lie. Stress on lie.
bil-EYE
/bɪˈlaɪ/
Belie is pronounced bil-EYE (/bɪˈlaɪ/). It has two syllables (Be-lie), with the stress on "lie". Belie is a verb meaning to give a false impression of something, or to fail to give a true notion or impression of something. It conveys the idea of contradicting or disguising the true nature or quality of something, often unintentionally. In usage, it describes situations where appearance or statements mask reality.
verbBelie is a verb meaning to give a false impression of something, or to fail to give a true notion or impression of something. It conveys the idea of contradicting or disguising the true nature or quality of something, often unintentionally. In usage, it describes situations where appearance or statements mask reality.
"Her calm demeanor belied the anxiety she felt inside."
"The glowing reviews belied the actually mediocre performance."
"A smile can belie real disappointment in a difficult moment."
Belie is pronounced /bɪˈlaɪ/. The first syllable is unstressed and sounds like ‘bi’ as in 'bit', and the second syllable carries the primary stress and sounds like ‘lie’ (as in tell a lie). Together: bi-LIE. In careful speech, you can exaggerate the diphthong in the second syllable to ensure ‘lie’ is clear. Audio resources: Cambridge Dictionary and Forvo provide native speaker samples with identical IPA: /bɪˈlaɪ/
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying be-LIE or bi-LYE with the emphasis on the first syllable) and confusing the vowel in the second syllable with a long ‘ee’ sound. Correct it by maintaining the clear /aɪ/ diphthong in the second syllable and stressing the second syllable: /bɪˈlaɪ/. Also avoid adding an extra consonant sound between syllables (e.g., bie-lie). Use slow repetition with focus on the internal /ɪ/ and /aɪ/ transitions.
Across US, UK, and AU, the pronunciation remains /bɪˈlaɪ/ with the same phonemes, but vowel quality can shift slightly in connected speech. In rapid UK speech, you may hear a softer /ɪ/ and a slightly closer transition to /laɪ/; in some Australian speech, vowel reduction nearby may make the first vowel sound marginally more centralized. The important part is the second syllable /laɪ/ with primary stress on the second syllable; rhythm and intonation patterns vary by region.
The difficulty comes from the /ɪ/ to /laɪ/ transition, a quick glide from a lax short vowel to a high front diphthong. Many speakers misplace emphasis on the first syllable or produce /biˈlaɪ/ with a broken or clipped /l/ sequence. Focus on keeping your jaw relaxed for the /ɪ/ and then smoothly glide into /laɪ/ without inserting extra consonants. Practicing the two-syllable rhythm helps integration into natural speech.
A distinctive feature is the strong stress on the second syllable, creating a notable i-diphthong in /laɪ/. Unlike many two-syllable verbs, belie’s second syllable carries the emphasis, so you’ll hear a clear ‘lie’ with a strong glide. The /ɪ/ in the first syllable is short and lax, which helps keep the s- syllable separation clean. Maintaining this stress pattern helps prevent clipping or flattening the word in connected speech.
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Belie comes from the Middle English bi lye, from the Old French belier meaning to misrepresent or to lie about. It ultimately derives from a Germanic root related to ‘lie’ in the sense of deception, with the prefix bi- intensifying the sense of opposition or contrary action. Over time, the sense shifted from literally lying about something to presenting an appearance that contradicts reality. By the 16th century, belies appeared in English texts to describe actions that hide the truth or give a misleading impression, often used in moral, political, or aesthetic critiques. The verb evolved to cover both deliberate deception and inadvertent misrepresentation, especially when external signs conflict with underlying facts. First known uses appear in early printed works of the Renaissance, with authors employing belied to condemn ostentation that belied inner virtue. In modern usage, belies commonly accompanies descriptions of appearances, conditions, or performances that fail to reflect truth or quality.
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Words that rhyme with "Belie"
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