Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bi-

/baɪ-/

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.04 in modern English

Syllables
bi-
IPA
/baɪ-/
4
Scrabble Score
2
Letters
2
Syllables
2
Unique Chars

Meaning

prefix

Two in number.

prefix

Having or possessing two of the root word's quality.

prefix

Both: referring to two as a set.

prefix

Being different in two ways with respect to the root.

prefix

Forked, divided by two, halved; (chemistry, proscribed) half

prefix

Double, twofold.

prefix

Bisexual, relating to bisexuality.

prefix

Bilateral, on both sides of the body.

Example Sentences

Etymology

PIE word *dwóh₁ Borrowed from Latin bi-, from Proto-Italic *dwi-, from Proto-Indo-European *dwi-. Doublet of twi- and di-.

Origin

Word Breakdown

Inflected Forms

bin- (alternative) bis- (alternative) bir- (alternative)

Derived Forms

bi biannual biautomaton biceps bichrome bicolor bicolour biconvex bicornuate bicycle bicyclic bicylindrical

Synonyms

di- duo-

Questions

How do you pronounce bi-?
The recorded pronunciation is /baɪ-/.
What does bi- mean?
Two in number.
Where does bi- come from?
It is traced to Proto-Indo-European.

How to pronounce bi-

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