3 syllables: bel, li, ni. Stress on li.
bel-EE-nee
/bɛˈlini/
bellini is pronounced bel-EE-nee (/bɛˈlini/). It has three syllables (bel-li-ni), with the stress on "li". Bellini refers to a small, bubbly Italian sparkling cocktail made with Prosecco and peach puree, or to the famous Italian surname. In culinary contexts it denotes a light, fruity beverage served chilled; as a proper noun, it references the cocktail’s creator or the singer with the surname. The term is widely used in restaurants and bar menus, often signaling a peach-forward, festive drink.
Bellini refers to a small, bubbly Italian sparkling cocktail made with Prosecco and peach puree, or to the famous Italian surname. In culinary contexts it denotes a light, fruity beverage served chilled; as a proper noun, it references the cocktail’s creator or the singer with the surname. The term is widely used in restaurants and bar menus, often signaling a peach-forward, festive drink.
"We ordered a Bellini to start the brunch — it was peachy and refreshing."
"The Bellini is a classic Italian cocktail that pairs perfectly with light appetizers."
"She wore a Bellini-colored dress that matched the sunset hues of the drink."
Pronounce it /bəˈliːni/ in US/UK/AU. Break it into be-[LÉ]-ni with the primary stress on the second syllable. Start with a light, neutral /bə/; then stress the long /ˈliː/ vowel, and finish with /ni/. Your mouth will open wider for /liː/ than for the first syllable, and the final /ni/ should be a clean, unvoiced or lightly voiced consonant+n as in 'knee' but short. Picture saying 'buh-LEA-nee' quickly and smoothly.
Common errors: 1) Incorrect stress, saying be-LEE-ni with the stress on the first syllable; correct it to be-LI-ni with emphasis on the second syllable. 2) Slurring the vowels into a flat 'eh' or 'ei'; aim for a clear /ˈliː/ as a long E. 3) Final consonant issue—pronounce /ni/ as /nɪ/ or drop the final consonant; ensure a clean /ni/ with a light, nasal closure. Practice saying ‘buh-LEE-nee’ with even, separate vowels.
In all three accents, the stressed syllable is second: be-LI-ni. US often preserves the long /iː/ as in ‘bee,’ UK and AU similarly maintain /ˈliː/, but vowel quality may widen slightly in UK, giving a more fronted vowel. Rhoticity is not impactful here since there’s no r after the vowel. The final /ni/ remains a clear /ni/ in all; avoid an Americanization that truncates the i, and don’t flatten it to /nɪ/ in non-rhotic varieties.
Because the second-syllable vowel requires a tense, long /iː/ not always common in English; the sequence /liː/ can tilt mid-word in fast speech, making the long vowel seem reduced. The final /ni/ can be confused with /niː/ or devoiced. The rhythm is a two-beat pattern (buh-LI-ni), which can feel unfamiliar if you’re not used to Italian word rhythms. Focus on distinct vowel length and steady consonant timing.
The word has a bimoraic stressed syllable with a long front vowel /iː/ and a neat ending /ni/ that requires a light, crisp tongue tip contact. The challenge is maintaining a crisp /l/ plus a clear /iː/ before the /n/ without letting the vowel slide into a reduced form in casual speech. Emphasize the crisp onset of /liː/ and avoid turning the second syllable into a schwa.
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US vs UK vs AU: • US: /bəˈliːni/ with a rhotic-sounding r-absent; keep /ˈliː/ as a long E, lips slightly spread. • UK: /bəˈliːni/ — slightly higher tongue position for the long /iː/, more clipped final /i/. • AU: /bəˈliːni/ — tends toward a slightly more open jaw for /iː/, but still a long vowel and crisp final /ni/. IPA references align: /bəˈliːni/ across accents, small vowel quality shifts, rhoticity minimal in non-rhotic variety. Key differences: vowel height and lip rounding; ensure /liː/ remains tense; end with clean /ni/.
Bellini originates from Italy and is named after Giuseppe Cipriani’s legendary 1930s Venetian bar, Harry’s Bar, where the drink was created. The name is most likely derived from the surname Bellini, a classical Italian family name, rather than a direct linguistic root tied to peach or prosecco. The cocktail’s concept—the peach puree mingling with sparkling wine—was unique at its debut, emphasizing a pale, peach-tinted appearance and a light, celebratory character. The term gained rapid currency in culinary and beverage culture as a symbol of refined, festive Italian hospitality. In European menus and international dining, Bellini evolved from a regional specialty to a globally recognized brunch staple, frequently referenced in Italian-themed menus and hospitality literature. Over time, the word has also appeared as a surname in arts and music contexts (e.g., famous composers with the Bellini surname), yet in cocktail discourse it remains inseparable from the peach-sparkling duo and the iconic beverage’s presentation. The first known written usage of “Bellini” in reference to the cocktail is tied to Harry’s Bar menus in the early 20th century, cementing its status as a proper noun and a symbol of Italian elegance.
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Words that rhyme with "bellini"
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