How to pronounce colleen
Say it like kol-EEN. Colleen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce colleen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kol
- EEN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Colleen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kolGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- EENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of colleen
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: kol-EEN.
What does colleen mean?
- A girl.
- A young single woman.
Where does colleen come from?
Borrowed from Irish cailín.
Words that rhyme with colleen
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of colleen.
Questions about saying colleen
How do you pronounce colleen?
Say kol-EEN. The American pronunciation is /ˌkɑˈlin/. In British English it is /ˌkɒˈliːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in colleen?
Colleen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EEN). Broken into parts: kol · EEN.
Is colleen pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌkɒˈliːn/ (kol-EEN).