bureau
PronouncedBYUU-roh
nounA desk with a cover and small shelves above it for keeping papers.
nounA piece of furniture with drawers for storing clothes.
nounAn office where people do clerical or professional work.
nounA government office or department that handles official business.
nounAn organization that collects or gives out information and news.
Syllables
2 syllables
Letters
Phonics breakdown
Phonics Rule: Letter B
Sound“b”·/b/
The letter B makes the /b/ sound, like in 'bat', 'big', and 'bug'. Both lips press together then release.
B is a voiced bilabial stop — both lips press together and release with voice. It always makes the /b/ sound except when silent at the end of words after m (as in 'lamb' or 'comb').
Tip
B looks like a bat — and bat starts with /b/!
Examples
When the letter U appears in a closed syllable, it usually makes the short U sound “uh”. This sounds like 'uh'.
Tip
U says “uh” like 'uh-oh, what's up?'
Examples
Phonics Rule: Letter R
Sound“r”·/r/
The letter R makes the /r/ sound, like in 'run', 'red', and 'rope'. The tongue curls back slightly.
R is a voiced approximant. The tongue curls back or bunches up without touching the roof of the mouth. When R follows a vowel it changes that vowel's sound (r-controlled vowels).
Tip
R is for run — /r/ with a curl of the tongue!
Examples
Phonics Rule: EAU says “oh”
Sound“oh”·/oʊ/
In words that came from French, EAU says the long O sound, like in 'bureau'.
EAU is a three-letter vowel team (a trigraph) — one sound, not three. At the end of words borrowed from French it says long O “oh”: bureau, plateau, tableau, beau. In beauty and beautiful the same three letters say “yoo” — see the companion rule.
Tip
EAU at the end says oh — bureau, plateau!
Examples
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