How to pronounce concubine
Say it like KONG-kyuh-byne. Concubine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KONG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce concubine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KONG
- kyuh
- byne
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Concubine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KONGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- kyuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- byneKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of concubine
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KONG-kyuh-byne.
What does concubine mean?
- A sexual partner, especially a woman, to whom one is not or cannot be married.
- A woman who lives with a man, but who is not a wife.
Where does concubine come from?
From Middle English concubine (first attested 1250–1300), from Anglo-Norman concubine, from Latin concubīna, equivalent to concub- (variant stem of concumbō (“to lie together”)) + feminine suffix -īna.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying concubine
How do you pronounce concubine?
Say KONG-kyuh-byne. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑŋkjəbaɪn/. In British English it is /ˈkɒŋkjəbaɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in concubine?
Concubine has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KONG). Broken into parts: KONG · kyuh · byne.
Is concubine 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 /ˈkɒŋkjəbaɪn/ (KONG-kyuh-byne).