How to pronounce concern
Say it like kun-SURN. Concern has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SURN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce concern. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kun
- SURN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Concern pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- SURNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of concern
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: kun-SURN.
What does concern mean?
- something that interests you because it is important or affects you“the safety of the ship is the captain's concern”
- an anxious feeling“care had aged him”“they hushed it up out of fear of public reaction”
- a feeling of sympathy for someone or something“She felt strong concern for those less fortunate”
- be relevant to“There were lots of questions referring to her talk”“My remark pertained to your earlier comments”
- be on the mind of“I worry about the second Germanic consonant shift”
Where does concern come from?
Borrowed from Middle French concerner, from Medieval Latin concernō, concernere (“I distinguish, have respect to”), from Latin concernō (“to mix, sift, or mingle together, as in a sieve”), combined form of con- + cernō (“distinguish”).
Words that rhyme with concern
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of concern.
Questions about saying concern
How do you pronounce concern?
Say kun-SURN. The American pronunciation is /kənˈsɝn/. In British English it is /kənˈsɜːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in concern?
Concern has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SURN). Broken into parts: kun · SURN.
Is concern 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 /kənˈsɜːn/ (kun-SURN).