how to pronounce downbeat

/daʊnˈbiːt/

audio example by a male speaker

audio example by a female speaker

the above transcription of downbeat is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

downbeat is pronounced in two syllables

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1.

2.

iː

example pitch curve for pronunciation of downbeat

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video examples of downbeat pronunciation

An example use of downbeat in a speech by a native speaker of american english:

“… make you catch the downbeat on that 25 …”

meanings of downbeat

adjective:

Cautiously optimistic.
Sad or pessimistic.

noun:

The accented beat at the beginning of a bar (indicated by a conductor with a downward stroke).

downbeat frequency in english - C2+ level of CEFR

the word downbeat occurs in english on average 0.4 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for C2+ level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.