Be
Definition
Be is a verb that serves as a basic verb of existence or state of being. It is used to indicate the existence, identity, or quality of someone or something. It also acts as an auxiliary verb in various tenses and moods.
Parts of Speech
- Verb
Pronunciation
American English
- IPA Pronunciation: /bi/
- Respelling: bee
British English
- IPA Pronunciation: /biː/
- Respelling: bee
Etymology
The word "be" originates from Old English "bēon," meaning "to exist" or "to become." Its roots trace back to Proto-Germanic "*beuną" and Proto-Indo-European "*bʰuH-" (to grow, become). The term has been in English since its earliest stages, evolving to serve as a fundamental verb of existence.
Derivatives
- Being (noun)
- Been (past participle)
- Am (present singular form)
- Is (present singular form)
- Are (present plural form)
Synonyms
- Exist
- Live
- Occur
Antonyms
- None
Usage
The verb "be" is one of the most commonly used verbs in English and serves as a linking verb, an auxiliary, and an indicator of existence or identity. For example, "I want to be a writer," or "They are friends."
Related Terms
- Existence: The state of existing or being.
- Identity: The fact of being who or what a person or thing is.
- Presence: The state of being in a place or situation.
Detailed Definitions
Verb
- To exist or live: Used to denote the state of existence.
- Example: "To be or not to be, that is the question."
- To happen or occur: Refers to the occurrence of an event or action.
- Example: "The meeting will be at 10 AM."
- To serve as an auxiliary verb: Used to form continuous and passive tenses.
- Example: "She is reading a book."
- To indicate identity or characteristics: Expresses qualities or attributes of a person or thing.
- Example: "He is kind and generous."
be
The word “be” means to exist or to have presence or reality.
The meeting will be at 10 AM.
She is reading a book.
🇨🇳 Mandarin
- 是 (Meaning: is, am, are)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʂɨ/
- Respelling: shì
- 在 (Meaning: located at, in)
- IPA Pronunciation: /tsai̯˥˩/
- Respelling: zài
🇮🇳 Hindi
- है (Meaning: is, am, are)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɦeː/
- Respelling: hai
- बन (Meaning: become)
- IPA Pronunciation: /bən/
- Respelling: ban
🇪🇸 Spanish
- ser (Meaning: to be in essence, identity)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ser/
- Respelling: ser
- estar (Meaning: to be in state, condition, location)
- IPA Pronunciation: /es'tar/
- Respelling: estar
🇫🇷 French
- être (Meaning: to be)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɛtʁ/
- Respelling: etre
- devenir (Meaning: become)
- IPA Pronunciation: /də.və.nir/
- Respelling: devenir
🇸🇦 Modern Standard Arabic
- كُن (Meaning: be)
- IPA Pronunciation: /kun/
- Respelling: kun
- صار (Meaning: became)
- IPA Pronunciation: /sˤaːr/
- Respelling: ṣār
🇧🇩 Bengali
- হওয়া (Meaning: to be)
- IPA Pronunciation: /hoʊ̯a/
- Respelling: hoa
- বানানো (Meaning: make, create)
- IPA Pronunciation: /banano/
- Respelling: banano
🇷🇺 Russian
- быть (Meaning: to be)
- IPA Pronunciation: /bɨtʲ/
- Respelling: byt'
- находиться (Meaning: to be located)
- IPA Pronunciation: /nəxɐˈdʲitsə/
- Respelling: nakhodit'sya
🇵🇹 Portuguese
- ser (Meaning: to be, essence, identity)
- IPA Pronunciation: /sɛɾ/
- Respelling: ser
- estar (Meaning: to be, state, condition, location)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ɛs'taɾ/
- Respelling: estar
🇮🇩 Indonesian
- adalah (Meaning: is, am, are)
- IPA Pronunciation: /adalah/
- Respelling: adalah
- menjadi (Meaning: become)
- IPA Pronunciation: /məndʲadi/
- Respelling: menjadi
🇩🇪 German
- sein (Meaning: to be)
- IPA Pronunciation: /zaɪ̯n/
- Respelling: sein
- werden (Meaning: become)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ˈvɛʁdən/
- Respelling: werden
🇯🇵 Japanese
- である (Meaning: to be)
- IPA Pronunciation: /de aɾu/
- Respelling: de aru
- なる (Meaning: become)
- IPA Pronunciation: /naɾu/
- Respelling: naru
🇻🇳 Vietnamese
- là (Meaning: is, am, are)
- IPA Pronunciation: /laː/
- Respelling: là
- trở thành (Meaning: become)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ʈʂɔ˧˥ thəːŋ˧/
- Respelling: trở thành
🇰🇷 Korean
- 이다 (Meaning: is, am, are)
- IPA Pronunciation: /ida/
- Respelling: ida
- 되다 (Meaning: become)
- IPA Pronunciation: /tweda/
- Respelling: doeda
🇹🇷 Turkish
- olmak (Meaning: to be, become)
- IPA Pronunciation: /olmak/
- Respelling: olmak
🇵🇰 Urdu
- ہے (Meaning: is, am, are)
- IPA Pronunciation: /heɪ/
- Respelling: hai
- بننا (Meaning: become)
- IPA Pronunciation: /bən.naː/
- Respelling: banna
