How to pronounce arson
Say it like AR-sun. Arson has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce arson. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- AR
- sun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Arson pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- sunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of arson
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: AH-sun.
What does arson mean?
- The crime of deliberately starting a fire with intent to cause damage.“carry out an arson attack”
- To illegally set fire to; to burn down in a criminal manner.
Where does arson come from?
From Anglo-Norman and Old French arson, from the verb ardoir, from Latin ardeō (“to burn”).
Questions about saying arson
How do you pronounce arson?
Say AR-sun. The American pronunciation is /ˈɑrsən/. In British English it is /ˈɑːsən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in arson?
Arson has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (AR). Broken into parts: AR · sun.
Is arson pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈɑːsən/ (AH-sun).