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Topic: How should one pronounce Biopic

I used to see some films on television listed as a biopic.

I used to read this as "Bi OP ic".

Then I thought that it perhaps should be "(Bi-o)-pic", as perhaps from Biographical Picture as some refer to films and movies as pictures.

Opinions please.

William

  • Alfred
  • Alfred
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Re: How should one pronounce Biopic

I’ve always been tempted to make it rhyme with myopic, but (as you say) it’s actually a contraction of ‘biographical picture’. As such, the primary stress should be on the first syllable rather than the second.

“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.”
― Hermann Hesse

3 Reply by GB

  • GB
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Re: How should one pronounce Biopic

the primary stress should be on the first syllable

And, according to my dictionary, the "o" should be long as in "mope", not short as in "got" (or "myopic"). Although I have always pronounce it with a short "o", but with more stress on the "bi" than on the "my".

  • Alfred
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Re: How should one pronounce Biopic

GB wrote:

the primary stress should be on the first syllable

And, according to my dictionary, the "o" should be long as in "mope", not short as in "got" (or "myopic").

Biopic is ‘bio-pic’ but myopic is ‘my-opic’, so it doesn’t surprise me that the ‘o’ sounds may be articulated differently.

“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.”
― Hermann Hesse