Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

bedtime

/ˈbɛdtaɪm/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: 3.56 in modern English

Syllables
bed-time
IPA
/ˈbɛdtaɪm/
12
Scrabble Score
7
Letters
2
Syllables
6
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The time or hour at which one retires to bed in order to sleep.

Countable; Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Middle English bedtyme, bed-tyme, bedetyme, bedde tyme, equivalent to bed + time. Compare earlier Old English bedtīd (“bedtime”). Compare also West Frisian bêdtiid (“bedtime”), Dutch bedtijd (“bedtime”), Saterland Frisian Bädegungenstied (“bedtime”, literally “bed-goings-time”), German Low German Beddgahnstied, Bettgahnstiet (“bedtime”, literally “bed-goings-time”).

Origin

Word Breakdown

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Questions

How do you pronounce bedtime?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˈbɛdtaɪm/.
What does bedtime mean?
The time or hour at which one retires to bed in order to sleep.
Where does bedtime come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce bedtime

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