Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

beau

/ˈboʊ̯/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.58 in modern English

Syllables
beau
IPA
/ˈboʊ̯/
6
Scrabble Score
4
Letters
1
Syllables
4
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A man with a reputation for fine dress and etiquette; a dandy or fop.

Dated

noun

A male lover; a boyfriend.

Canadian usage; American usage; Dated

noun

A male escort.

noun

A suitor of a lady.

verb

To act as a beau (towards); to court or woo.

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English beau, beu, bew, bewe, from Old French beau, from Latin bellus (“beautiful”). Doublet of bello and boo.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈboʊ̯/
  • British English: /ˈbəʊ̯/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Homonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce beau?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈboʊ̯/.
What does beau mean?
A man with a reputation for fine dress and etiquette; a dandy or fop.
Where does beau come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce beau

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “beau”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈboʊ̯/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “beau”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “beau” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.