Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bento

/ˈbɛnˌtoʊ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 2.70 in modern English

Syllables
ben-to
IPA
/ˈbɛnˌtoʊ/
7
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A Japanese takeaway lunch served in a box, often with the food arranged into an elaborate design.

noun

Synonym of bento box (“a partitioned, traditionally lacquered, lunchbox in which a Japanese takeaway lunch is served”).

noun

A generic meal packed in a disposable bento box.

noun

A menu icon of nine squares in a grid.

noun

A layout consisting of cards arranged in a modular, irregularly partitioned grid.

Example Sentences

Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese 弁(べん)当(とう) (bentō). Doublet of biandang.

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˈbɛnˌtoʊ/
  • British English: /ˈbɛntəʊ/

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Food.

Inflected Forms

bentos (plural) bentō (alternative)

Phrases

bento box

Frequently Paired Words

hamburger kebab meatball masonry

Synonyms

bento box

Rhymes With

sacramento memento vento nascimento lento mento parenteau casamento pentimento sarmento chimento sorrento

Questions

How do you pronounce bento?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbɛnˌtoʊ/.
What does bento mean?
A Japanese takeaway lunch served in a box, often with the food arranged into an elaborate design.
Where does bento come from?
Borrowed from Japanese 弁(べん)当(とう) (bentō). Doublet of biandang.

How to pronounce bento

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