Is “beloved” two or three syllables?
“beloved” has 2 or 3 syllables, depending on how you say it. Most dictionaries count 2. bih-LUVD (2) vs bih-LUV-id (3, usually as adjective or noun).
Every pronunciation, counted
| Say it like | IPA | Syllables | Count | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bi-LUVD | /bɪ.ˈlʌvd/ | b ih · l ah v d | 2 | CMU dictionary |
| bi-LUV-uhd | /bɪ.ˈlʌv.əd/ | b ih · l ah v · ah d | 3 | CMU dictionary |
Syllables are shown in ARPAbet (the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary's phoneme alphabet). Respellings put the stressed syllable in capitals.
Why the count varies
Meaning-dependent pronunciation. The same spelling is pronounced with different counts depending on its meaning or part of speech (prayer, aged, learned, blessed, separate).
What the dictionaries say
- Cambridge (UK) /bɪˈlʌv.ɪd/, /bɪˈlʌvd/
- Cambridge (US) /bɪˈlʌvd/, /bɪˈlʌv.ɪd/, /bɪˈlʌv·ɪd/
- Wiktionary /bɪˈlʌvd/, /bɪˈlʌv.ɪd/
For haiku, sonnets and song lyrics
The count follows the meaning (bih-LUVD (2) vs bih-LUV-id (3, usually as adjective or noun).). In a haiku or metrical line, count the reading you intend; readers will hear the other only if the context invites it.
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Pronunciations from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary, checked against Cambridge Dictionary and Wiktionary transcriptions. Hyphenation from the hyph_en_US patterns.