How to pronounce brazen
Say it like BRAY-zun. Brazen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce brazen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- BRAY
- zun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Brazen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- BRAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- zunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of brazen
American and British speakers say brazen in essentially the same way: /ˈbreɪzən/ in the US and /ˈbreɪzən/ in the UK.
British respelling: BRAY-zun.
What does brazen mean?
- Brass-like in appearance or character; bright, ruddy, hard.
- Sounding harsh and loud, like brass cymbals or brass instruments.
- Shameless or impudent; shocking or audacious; brash.“She was brazen enough to deny stealing the handbag even though she was caught on camera doing so.”
- To turn a brass color.
- Generally followed by out or through: to carry through in a brazen manner; to act boldly despite embarrassment, risk, etc.
Where does brazen come from?
The word originally meant “of brass”; the figurative verb sense (as in brazen it out (“face impudently”)) dates from the 1550s (perhaps evoking the sense “face like brass, unmoving and not showing shame”), and the adjective sense “impudent” from the 1570s.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with brazen
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of brazen.
Questions about saying brazen
How do you pronounce brazen?
Say BRAY-zun. The American pronunciation is /ˈbreɪzən/. In British English it is /ˈbreɪzən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in brazen?
Brazen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (BRAY). Broken into parts: BRAY · zun.
Do Americans and Brits say brazen the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈbreɪzən/ and the British form is /ˈbreɪzən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.