How to pronounce bourn
Say it like BORN. Bourn is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
VoiceSpeed
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce bourn. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
US American/boʊrn/BORN
UK British/bɔːn/BAWN
- BORN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Bourn pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BORNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of bourn
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: BAWN.
What does bourn mean?
noun
- Alternative form of bourne (“small stream or brook”).
- Alternative form of bourne (“destination; limit”).
Questions about saying bourn
How do you pronounce bourn?
Say BORN. The American pronunciation is /boʊrn/. In British English it is /bɔːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in bourn?
Bourn is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BORN.
Is bourn 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 /bɔːn/ (BAWN).