3 syllables: Bul, le, tin. Stress on Bul.
BUUL-it-uhn
/ˈbʊlɪtən/
Bulletin is pronounced BUUL-it-uhn (/ˈbʊlɪtən/). It has three syllables (Bul-le-tin), with the stress on "Bul". Bulletin is a short, official notice or report published for information or announcement. It typically presents facts concisely and formally, often issued by organizations, media outlets, or authorities. The term emphasizes timely information distributed to a specific audience and can function as a summary or update in professional contexts.
nounBulletin is a short, official notice or report published for information or announcement. It typically presents facts concisely and formally, often issued by organizations, media outlets, or authorities. The term emphasizes timely information distributed to a specific audience and can function as a summary or update in professional contexts.
- You may overemphasize the middle syllable, making it sound like BUL-LI-TIN with a full /ɪ/; instead, use a quick, lax middle vowel (ə or ɪ) and keep the ending light. - The final -tin can be mispronounced as /tiːn/ or /tɛn/; keep it short and unvoiced before the nasal transition; aim for /ˈbʊl.ɪ.tən/ (US) or /ˈbʊ.lə.tɪn/ (UK). - Many learners add an extra consonant between syllables, producing /ˈbəlˌliː.tɪn/; avoid inserting extra consonants, keep a tight, three-syllable cadence. Practice by saying “BUHL-lit-tin” with clear, but brief vowels. Finally, ensure final consonant release is crisp but not overemphasized.
"The university sent a bulletin outlining the new campus policies."
"The weather bulletin warned residents of approaching storms."
"A company bulletin announced the quarterly earnings and upcoming changes."
US/UK/AU all share BUL-uh-tin (US: /ˈbʊl.ɪ.tən/, UK: /ˈbʊl.ə.tɪn/, AU: /ˈbʊl.ɪ.tɪn/). Primary stress is on the first syllable BUL. The middle vowel is a lax schwa-like sound in many speakers, giving a quick, unstressed second syllable. Ensure the final -tin sounds as a light, unstressed /tən/ in US and AU; UK may reduce to /tɪn/. Practice: strong initial lip rounding is minimal; keep the mouth relaxed for the middle and end. Audio reference: you can compare with reputable dictionaries’ recordings for the same entry, or Pronounce for native speaker audio samples.
Common errors include pronouncing it as two syllables with a full vowel in the middle (BU-LLI- tin) or turning the second syllable into a separate stressed unit (/ˈbʊl.lɪ.tən/ with extra emphasis). Another mistake is elongating the final -tin to /ˈbʊl.əˌtiːn/ or replacing the middle vowel with a full /i/; both reduce natural rhythm. Correction: keep the middle vowel lax (schwa or near-schwa: /ɪ/ or /ə/ depending on accent), and compress the final syllable to a quick, light /tən/ or /tɪn/ with minimal vowel length. Listen to trusted dictionaries to refine timing.
US tends to a strong first syllable with a lighter, unstressed middle and ending; /ˈbʊl.ɪ.tən/. UK often reduces the middle vowel more (/ˈbʊ.lə.tɪn/), with a slightly quicker, clipped final -tin. Australian tends to a flat, even tempo, similar to US but with shorter vowel length and a tendency to reduce vowels in the second/third syllable, often /ˈbʊl.ɪ.tɪn/ depending on speaker. The rhoticity remains non-rhotic in UK and AU in typical forms, while US speakers retain rhotic r only in related contexts. Listen to region-specific pronunciations for nuance.
Two key challenges: a) the middle syllable often reduces to a quick, schwa-like sound that can drift toward /i/ or /ɪ/ depending on speaker; b) the final -tin blends quickly with the preceding syllable, so the transition from the second to the final consonant demands precise timing to avoid a drawn-out or mis-timed /ən/ vs /ən/. Practicing with minimal pairs and phonetic breakdown helps. Focus on maintaining stress on BUL and a light, unstressed -tin. IPA cues provide accuracy.
In many contexts, especially in fast speech, you may hear a brief reduced vowel in the middle, sounding like /ˈbʊl.tn/. This occurs when the middle vowel is elided in rapid speech, leaving a smoother glide from the /l/ to the final /t/; you can replicate this by shortening the middle vowel and doubling the final consonant transition efficiently. Pay attention to surrounding words to decide if you keep a faint middle vowel.
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Bulletin comes from the Old French bulletin, from boire? no, actually from French bulletin meaning a little roll, notice, or brief. The root is bulle (a small ball or bullet) influenced by Latin bullus ‘bubble’? The term evolved in medieval Latin as bullenum or bulletinum, then to French with diminutive -in, denoting a small document or list. In English, bulletin gained prominence in the 17th-18th centuries as a short official notice or report. It was often used in military and government communications to describe a concise summary of events or decisions. Over time, the word broadened to any short informational memo, press note, or news brief, retaining its sense of brevity and official tone. The pronunciation settled with stress on the first syllable BUL-luh-tin, reflecting common English pattern for two-syllable nouns ending in -tin. First known uses appear in encyclopedic or administrative contexts, where timely updates required compact, formal language.
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Words that rhyme with "Bulletin"
-no) sounds
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