2 syllables: Be, ret. Stress on Be.
BER-uht
/ˈbɛɹət/
Beret is pronounced BER-uht (/ˈbɛɹət/). It has two syllables (Be-ret), with the stress on "Be". Beret is a soft, round, visorless hat traditionally worn by artists and military personnel. Pronounced with a two-syllable pattern, it emphasizes a clear second syllable: be-REH. In everyday speech it often sits near the front of the mouth, producing a light, slightly rounded vowel quality. Its usage spans fashion, culture, and European military history, making it a recognizable accessory across contexts.
nounBeret is a soft, round, visorless hat traditionally worn by artists and military personnel. Pronounced with a two-syllable pattern, it emphasizes a clear second syllable: be-REH. In everyday speech it often sits near the front of the mouth, producing a light, slightly rounded vowel quality. Its usage spans fashion, culture, and European military history, making it a recognizable accessory across contexts.
"She wore a classic black beret to the art gallery opening."
"During the parade, the soldiers adjusted their berets with pride."
"The poet spoke softly, tipping her maroon beret as she addressed the crowd."
Speak be-REH with the primary stress on the second syllable. In US English, /bəˈrā/ would be rendered as BEH-RAW? The standard is /bəˈrɛɪ/ or /bəˈrɛ/ in some variants. For accuracy, say /bəˈrɛ/ in UK/AU context or /bəˈreɪ/ depending on speaker. If you’re listening to a native speaker, you’ll often hear the second syllable elongated slightly. An audio reference: compare with /bəˈreɪ/ in British broadcasts to capture the closer vowel quality. IPA focus: second syllable voiced with an open-mid front vowel and r-colored vowel quality.
Mistakes include pronouncing the second syllable as /riː/ or /reɪ/ with excessive length, and misplacing stress on the first syllable. To correct: place the primary stress on the second syllable: be-REt; relax the first syllable to /bə/ with a quick, muted schwa and use a short, crisp second vowel /ɛ/ or /eɪ/ depending on dialect. Avoid turning it into ‘ber-ET’ with equal emphasis. Practicing with a minimal pair like ‘bear it’ helps ensure your second syllable doesn’t swallow the first.
US tends to use a schwa in the first syllable and a more open vowel in the second (/bəˈrɛt/ or /bəˈreɪ/). UK often elevates the second vowel toward /eɪ/ or /ɛ/ with a non-rhotic r. AU commonly mirrors US vowels but with a more clipped, rapid rhythm and less rhoticity in connected speech. Across accents, the key differences are rhoticity, vowel height and quality in the second syllable, and the duration of the second syllable. Listen for the rounded vs. unrounded lip posture in the second vowel.
The challenge lies in the unstressed first syllable /bə/ with a quick schwa plus the stressed second syllable requiring a precise vowel quality and lip rounding. Many speakers tilt toward /ber/ or elongate the second vowel, losing the crisp open-mid vowel. Mastering the subtle lip rounding and maintaining a stable alveolar rhotic /ɹ/ (when present) helps. Additionally, dialectal shifts between /eɪ/ and /ɛ/ in the second syllable add complexity when transiting from American to British pronunciation.
Beret’s second syllable is central to recognition: ensure you do not turn the second syllable into a broad 'air' or 'ear' sound. Keep the vowel as /ɛ/ or /eɪ/ with a short, clipped r-ful color, and avoid letting the second syllable drift into a prolonged 'ee' or 'ay' sound. The overall effect should be be-REH with a quick, clean transition from the unstressed first syllable to the emphasized second.
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Beret comes from the French word beret, borrowed from the Basque word Beretako, meaning 'small cap' or 'cap with a round, flat crown.' In early French usage, beret referred to a soft cap worn by shepherds and peasants in the Pyrenees. The garment gained modern recognition in the 19th and 20th centuries as a fashionable and symbolic item in European fashion and in military contexts. English adoption preserved the two-syllable structure, though regional pronunciations diverged. The term also intersects with regional identity, notably in Basque regions where the beret is a cultural staple. First known use in English traces to the late 19th century, with increasing popularity in civilian fashion by mid-20th century, and a durable presence in art and military lexicon afterward.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Beret" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Beret" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Beret"
-ret sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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