How to pronounce con
Say it like KON. Con is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce con. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KON
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Con pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of con
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KON.
What does con mean?
- an argument opposed to a proposal
- a person serving a sentence in a jail or prison
- a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property
- deprive of by deceit“He swindled me out of my inheritance”“She defrauded the customers who trusted her”
- commit to memory; learn by heart“Have you memorized your lines for the play yet?”
- in opposition to a proposition, opinion, etc.“much was written pro and con”
Where does con come from?
Inherited from Middle English connen, inherited from Old English cunnan (“to know, know how”), inherited from Proto-West Germanic *kunnan (“recognize, know how”), inherited from Proto-Germanic *kunnaną (“to know, know how”), inherited from
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with con
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of con.
Words that sound like con
Questions about saying con
How do you pronounce con?
Say KON. The American pronunciation is /kɑn/. In British English it is /kɒn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in con?
Con is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: KON.
Is con 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 /kɒn/ (KON).
What words sound the same as con?
Con sounds the same as conn, khan in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.