How to Pronounce "bureaucracy"
The correct pronunciation of "bureaucracy" is byoo-ROK-ruh-see /bjʊəˈrɒk.rə.si/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "BYOO-ro-kray-see" habit for good.
bureaucracy
/bjʊəˈrɒk.rə.si/A system of government or administration with many rules and officials.
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Record yourself saying “bureaucracy” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "BYOO-ro-kray-see" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying "BYOO-ro-kray-see" — stressing the first syllable and rhyming the middle with "ray". | byoo-ROK-ruh-see /bjʊəˈrɒk.rə.si/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | Second syllable (ROK). |
How Do You Pronounce "bureaucracy"?
"bureaucracy" is pronounced byoo-ROK-ruh-see /bjʊəˈrɒk.rə.si/. The stress is on the second syllable (ROK). As a noun, it means a system of government or administration with many rules and officials.
Stress lands on "ROK", not on "byoo": byoo-ROK-ruh-see.
Listen for the stressed syllable and copy its rhythm — getting the stress right matters more than any single sound.
Say "bureaucracy" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
byoo-ROK-ruh-see — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
Second syllable (ROK). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
Stress lands on "ROK", not on "byoo": byoo-ROK-ruh-see.
Blend and repeat
Now say "bureaucracy" at normal speed: byoo-ROK-ruh-see. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "bureaucracy" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
say democracy → dih-MOK-ruh-see → byoo-ROK-ruh-see
Borrow the rhythm of democracy — the second syllable takes the stress.
byoo → ROK → ruh → see: byoo-ROK-ruh-see
Light 'byoo', punch ROK, then let the tail fall away softly.
NOT BYOO-ro-kray-see — byoo-ROK-ruh-see
No 'kray' in the middle — it's ROK, and ROK carries the stress.
At speed: avoided unnecessary bureaucracy
Keep ROK as the only heavy beat in the whole phrase.
Why "bureaucracy" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
The familiar word "bureau" (BYOO-ro) tempts learners to keep its stress, but the longer word shifts stress to "ROK".
Tip: Say "byoo" lightly, hit "ROK" hard, finish softly: byoo-ROK-ruh-see — same rhythm as "democracy".
Hear “bureaucracy” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
Government bureaucracy can slow down approvals.
The startup avoided unnecessary bureaucracy.
Cutting bureaucracy was his main promise.
Words Related to "bureaucracy"
Related: democracy
Same stress pattern: dih-MOK-ruh-see.
Now say it inside a sentence
Getting "bureaucracy" right on its own is the easy part. Pronunciation only sticks in connected speech. Read a passage aloud and get scored on accuracy and pace, word by word — free, no login.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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