kwee-BOH-noh
/kwiː ˈboʊ noʊ/
Cui Bono is pronounced kwee-BOH-noh (/kwiː ˈboʊ noʊ/). Cui Bono is a Latin phrase meaning “who benefits?” used to question motives or beneficiaries of an action or policy. In English, the term is often used rhetorically to imply potential self-interest behind events, policies, or decisions. It’s commonly invoked in political or critical discussions to assess incentive structures and accountability.
nounCui Bono is a Latin phrase meaning “who benefits?” used to question motives or beneficiaries of an action or policy. In English, the term is often used rhetorically to imply potential self-interest behind events, policies, or decisions. It’s commonly invoked in political or critical discussions to assess incentive structures and accountability.
"The scandal raised the question: cui bono—who stood to gain from the decision?"
"Investors debated the policy’s effects, asking cui bono and who would profit."
"Ethical critics insisted on examining cui bono before endorsing the reform."
pronounce as /ˈkwi ˈboʊ.noʊ/ in US English or /ˈkwi ˈbəʊ.nə/ in UK English. Put stress on the first syllable of each word: CUI and BO-no. Start with a round, closed lips for /kw/ then an open vowel in /i/; /ˈboʊ/ uses a long o as in boat. For Australian, mirror UK pronunciation with mild vowel quality and rhoticity depending on speaker. You’ll hear two distinctly enunciated words; maintain Latin vowel clarity.
Mistakes include treating CUI as a long ‘ee’ like 'cue' and misplacing stress on the second word. Another error is blending the words into a single syllable stream (/ˈkwibuːˌnoʊ/). Correct by articulating /ˈkwi/ with a brief /i/ and keeping /ˈboʊ.noʊ/ as two clear syllables. Practice by pausing slightly between words and ensuring /ˈboʊ/ has a full open-o sound rather than a reduced schwa in casual speech.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈkwi ˈboʊ.noʊ/, with a rhotic /r/ not present and a clear /oʊ/ diphthong in 'bo-no'. UK English tends to /ˈkwi ˈbəʊ.nə/, with a shorter, more centralized /ə/ in the second syllable and non-rhoticity most speakers. Australian English aligns closer to UK but with slightly broader vowels and a more pronounced /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ depending on region; rhoticity varies by speaker. Maintain two-syllable cadence in both, ensuring sharp consonant onset for /kw/ and a distinct boundary between words.
The difficulty comes from Latin-origin vowels and the two-word phrase that demands precise word boundary and stress. The /i/ in Cui is a high-front vowel, and /bo/ carries a rounded o; the second word /no/ ends with a clear nasal n followed by another rounded vowel. Learners often reduce the second syllable or merge the words. Focus on maintaining separate, crisp syllables and correct diphthong quality in /boʊ/ or /bəʊ/ depending on dialect.
Cui is stressed on the first syllable, Bono on the first syllable of the second word. There is no nasal assimilation across word boundary; keep a clear pause or a light boundary to avoid a run-together effect. If connected speech is needed, a brief light pause can help maintain the two distinct words, especially in careful speech. Pay attention to the final /i/ in Cui and initial /b/ in Bono to prevent vowel intrusion.
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- US: /ˈkwi ˈboʊ.noʊ/. Emphasize non-rhotic /r/ absence, crisp /boʊ/. - UK: /ˈkwi ˈbəʊ.nə/. Use clear /ə/ in second syllable, non-rhotic. - AU: /ˈkwi ˈboː.nə/ or /ˈkwi ˈbəʊ.nə/ depending on region; vowels slightly broader, keep two-syllable rhythm. IPA references: US /ˈkwi ˈboʊ.noʊ/, UK /ˈkwi ˈbəʊ.nə/, AU /ˈkwi ˈboː.nə/. - General: maintain two-stress pattern; avoid trailing silent vowels; keep lips rounded for /oʊ/ diphthong in Bono in US. - Tip: practice with a mirror to ensure mouth positions align with IPA shapes.
Cui Bono comes from Latin, with cui meaning “to whom” and bono meaning “good” or “benefit.” It is a dative construction often translated as “to whom is it good?” or “who benefits?” The phrase appears in Roman-era references and later entered modern political and social discourse as a compact way to probe incentives. It gained wider circulation during Enlightenment and modern political commentary, especially in discussions of governance, corruption, and policy. In many languages, the concept is rendered with phrases like “to whom does it profit.” First known usage in Latin texts dates to classical or early modern scholarship, but it became a staple rhetorical tool in contemporary journalism and political analysis, where asking cui bono succinctly challenges motives behind actions rather than surface justifications.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Cui Bono" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Cui Bono" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Cui Bono"
-ino sounds
-ono sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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