2 syllables: be, ware. Stress on ware.
biw-ER
/bɪˈwɛɹ/
beware is pronounced biw-ER (/bɪˈwɛɹ/). It has two syllables (be-ware), with the stress on "ware". Beware means to be alert to possible danger or harm. It signals a warning to take heed or be cautious about something that could cause trouble or harm, often preceding a statement of risk. The term emphasizes attentiveness and precaution in response to perceived threats or uncertain outcomes.
Beware means to be alert to possible danger or harm. It signals a warning to take heed or be cautious about something that could cause trouble or harm, often preceding a statement of risk. The term emphasizes attentiveness and precaution in response to perceived threats or uncertain outcomes.
- You may flatten the second syllable to a flat /eər/ or /ɛər/ instead of the full diphthong; aim for a rounded, moving quality that glides from /ɪ/ to /wɛər/ or /weə/. - Misplacing the stress as BEH-ware instead of be-WARE; keep stress on the second syllable. Practice with a beat or metronome to feel the natural stress. - Over-articulating the /w/ in a cluster; keep it as a quick, soft glide that connects smoothly to the vowel. Tips: record yourself, compare with native speakers, and practice with minimal pairs like 'bear' vs 'bare' to tune vowel quality and stress.
"Parents tell their children to beware of strangers when walking home from school."
"The sign warned drivers to beware of icy patches on the road."
"Journalists urged readers to beware of misinformation spreading online."
Pronounce it as /bɪˈwɛər/ in US and UK; in Australian English you’ll hear /bɪˈweə/. The main stress is on the second syllable: be-WARE. Start with a short /b/ followed by a relaxed /ɪ/ like it’s the 'bi-' in 'bid'. The second syllable uses /wɛər/ in US/UK and /weə/ in AU, with a long diphthong that starts mid-front and glides to a mid-back position. Focus on the glide after /w/ and keep the vowel steady rather than flattening it. Audio references: try listening to entries on Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries, and Forvo entries for native speakers.
Common mistakes include pronouncing the second syllable as plain /e/ as in 'bed' or over-lengthening it to /eə/ in isolation. Another frequent error is misplacing stress, saying be-WARE incorrectly as be-WARE with stress on the first syllable. To correct: ensure the /ɪ/ in the first syllable is short, then glide into the /wɜː/ or /wɛər/ sequence by pronouncing a clean, one-syllable vowel in the second part and finishing with a tight, rounded lip position for the /ɔɚ/ or /əː/ sound depending on accent. Practice with minimal pairs like 'bear' vs 'bare' to feel the difference in vowel quality.
In US/UK, beware typically uses a two-syllable, trochaic pattern with /bɪˈwɛər/ (US/UK) and a rhotacized ending only in some US speakers where the final /r/ is pronounced before a vowel in connected speech. In Australian English, you’ll hear /bɪˈweə/ with a longer, more open onset in the second syllable and a less pronounced rhoticity. The vowel in the second syllable tends to be a longer, tense diphthong in all varieties, but Australians may shift the vowel toward a near-central quality in rapid speech. Listening to native examples on Pronounce or YouGlish can highlight the subtle timbre differences.
The difficulty comes from the second syllable’s diphthong and the transition from a short /ɪ/ to a rounded, tense mid-vowel glide /wɛər/ or /weə/. Learners often neutralize the vowel to a lax /e/ or misplace lip rounding, which makes it sound like ‘bewar’ or ‘bewair’ with an overly long vowel. The consonant sequence /bw/ also requires precise lip projection and a short, explosive /b/ onset before a smooth /ɪ/ into the glide. Mastery involves controlling lip rounding, jaw openness, and a clean glide into the second syllable.
A unique aspect is the combination of a light, almost schwa-like initial /ɪ/ vowel in the first syllable with a strong, rounded second-syllable diphthong. The transition should feel seamless, not abrupt. Practically, you’ll notice your lips move from a neutral, slightly spread position for /ɪ/ to a rounded, forward-closure shape for the /w/ onset and the following vowel. This creates the characteristic 'bew-ARE' feel without breaking the syllable rhythm.
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- US: emphasize rhotic-ish end consonant; even in non-rhotic contexts you should push the /r/ color slightly in connected speech. Vowel quality: /ɪ/ in the first syllable sounds shorter and lighter than the second syllable's /wɛər/. - UK: typically non-rhotic; the second syllable is a pure /weə/ or /wɛə/ with a clear glide; avoid adding a trailing /r/. - AU: similar to UK but with more open vowel quality; keep the second syllable longer and more rounded. IPA cues: US /bɪˈwɛər/, UK /bɪˈweə/, AU /bɪˈweə/. - General tip: loosen jaw slightly for a relaxed start, then glide into a rounded, centered second vowel.
Beware comes from Middle English be war/waer (a compound of be- meaning 'thoroughly' or 'as much as' and war/waer meaning 'beware, warning, danger'). The word war itself traces back to Old English werian or warian, reflecting peril and protection. By the 14th century, beware appears in legal and ceremonial contexts as a directive to take notice or be on guard. The double-tongued nature of the phrase likely evolved from phrases like be ware that warned listeners of danger, eventually collapsing into the single lexical item we use today. Its semantic core—alertness to risk—has remained stable across centuries, expanding in modern usage to cover digital, social, and informational threats in addition to physical dangers. First known usage in English literature appears in Middle English admonitions and legal warnings, with a consistent emphasis on taking proactive steps to mitigate harm. Over time, beware migrated from a general caution to a common, almost formulaic warning preceding statements about potential hazards.
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Words that rhyme with "beware"
-are sounds
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