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How to pronounce:
best
Definition:
(nou) the supreme effort one can make (nou) the person who is most outstanding or excellent; someone who tops all others (nou) Canadian physiologist (born in the United States) who assisted F. G. Banting in research leading to the discovery of insulin (1899-1978)
Phonetic Transcription:
best
Examples:
The simpler the better is usually the best.
Their best expertise and the main income of the Pagans was piracy.
The main one is the claim in the lead that he's the best ever.
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Common mistakes of best pronunciation
- Misplacing the vowel sound: Some learners pronounce "best" with a long vowel sound, like "bēst". The correct pronunciation is with a short "e" sound, /bɛst/ in both US and UK. Tip: Focus on the short "e" sound to avoid this mistake.
- Overemphasizing the "t": A common error is to stress the "t" too heavily, making it sound like "bes-t". The correct pronunciation, /bɛst/, has a softer "t". Tip: Keep the "t" light and connected to the preceding sound.
- Dropping the final consonant: Some speakers may drop the "t" altogether, saying "bes". This can confuse listeners. The full pronunciation is /bɛst/. Tip: Always pronounce the final "t" clearly to ensure clarity.
- Confusing with similar words: Learners sometimes mix up "best" with "vest" or "bust". Each word has distinct sounds. "Best" is /bɛst/, while "vest" is /vɛst/. Tip: Pay attention to the initial consonant to differentiate between these words.
- Incorrect stress placement: Some may incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "be-st". "Best" is a single-syllable word, pronounced /bɛst/. Tip: Remember, "best" has only one syllable, so keep the stress on the first and only syllable.