Pronunciation
How to pronounce “before”
“before” is pronounced /bɪfɔːɹ/ — 2 syllables.
The sound
Say “before”
before
/bɪfɔːɹ/
Say it right
2 syllables. Stress the 'ɔːɹ' part (say it longer and louder) and let the others relax — unstressed vowels often soften to a lazy /ə/.Meaning
earlier in time; previously
“I had known her before”
This entry is generated live and has not been through our editorial check yet, so it carries no British transcription and no mistake notes. Browse the checked dictionary.
Practise this word
Now say “before” yourself
Record it and sayit shows you exactly which sounds landed and which to fix — free, private, in your browser.