How to Pronounce Beam

To pronounce "beam", say BEAM — one syllable, IPA /biːm/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

beam

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying beam, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

1

Syllable

4

Letters

/biːm/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “beam”

"beam" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with gleam and esteem, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: beahm, beem — easy to mix up when writing.

What does beam mean?

noun

  1. Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.
  2. One of the principal horizontal timbers of a building; one of the transverse members of a ship's frame on which the decks are laid — supported at the sides by knees in wooden ships and by stringers in steel ones.

verb

  1. To emit beams of light; shine; radiate.

    “to beam forth light”

  2. To smile broadly or especially cheerfully.

Synonyms

beam featherbreadthwalking beamworking beam

Words that rhyme with beam

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

gleamesteemschemecreamthemestreamdreampassimscreamteamdaydreamregime

Related words

shaftrayradiateglowshineairsendtransmit

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "beam"?▾

"Beam" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "beam"?▾

The IPA transcription of "beam" is /biːm/.

What does "beam" mean?▾

Beam: Any large piece of timber or iron long in proportion to its thickness, and prepared for use.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “beam” in the full dictionary →