How to Pronounce Began

To pronounce "began", say BEG-an — 2 syllables, IPA /bɪˈɡæn/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

began

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

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

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

2

Syllables

5

Letters

/bɪˈɡæn/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “began

"began" has 2 syllables: beg-an. It rhymes with deadpan and span, if that helps it stick.

What does began mean?

verb

  1. To start, to initiate or take the first step into something.

    I began playing the piano at the age of five.   Now that everyone is here, we should begin the presentation.

  2. To be in the first stage of some situation

    The program begins at 9 o'clock on the dot.    I rushed to get to class on time, but the lesson had already begun.

Synonyms

Words that rhyme with began

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

Related words

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "began"?

"Began" has 2 syllables: beg · an.

What is the IPA transcription of "began"?

The IPA transcription of "began" is /bɪˈɡæn/.

What does "began" mean?

Began: To start, to initiate or take the first step into something.

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

Open “began” in the full dictionary →