How to pronounce brain
Say it like BRAYN. Brain is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- BRAYN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Brain pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BRAYNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of brain
American and British speakers say brain in essentially the same way: /breɪn/ in the US and /breɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: BRAYN.
What does brain mean?
- The control center of the central nervous system of an animal located in the skull, consisting of the cerebrum, cerebellum, and brainstem, which is responsible for perception, cognition, attention, memory, emotion, and action.
- A part of the brain, especially associated with particular mental functions, abilities, etc.
- Mind.“I have too much on my brain today.”
- To dash out the brains of; to kill by smashing the skull.
- To strike (someone) on the head.
- To destroy; to put an end to.
Where does brain come from?
Cognate with Scots braine, brane (“brain”), North Frisian brayen, brein, Brain (“brain”), Saterland Frisian Brainge, Bräienge (“brain”), West Frisian brein (“brain”), Dutch brein (“brain”), Low German Brägen, Bregen (“brain”) (whence German
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- encephalon
- harns
- brainbox
- brainiac
- brainpower
- learning ability
- mental capacity
- mentality
Words that rhyme with brain
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of brain.
Questions about saying brain
How do you pronounce brain?
Say BRAYN. The American pronunciation is /breɪn/. In British English it is /breɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in brain?
Brain is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: BRAYN.
Do Americans and Brits say brain the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /breɪn/ and the British form is /breɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.