How to pronounce curtain
Say it like KUR-tun. Curtain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce curtain. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KUR
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Curtain pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of curtain
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: KUR-tun.
What does curtain mean?
- hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
- any barrier to communication or vision“a curtain of secrecy”“a curtain of trees”
- provide with drapery“curtain the bedrooms”
Where does curtain come from?
Inherited from Middle English curtine, from Old French cortine, from Late Latin cōrtīna (“curtain”), a calque from Ancient Greek.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with curtain
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of curtain.
Questions about saying curtain
How do you pronounce curtain?
Say KUR-tun. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɝtən/. In British English it is /ˈkɜːtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in curtain?
Curtain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUR). Broken into parts: KUR · tun.
Is curtain 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 /ˈkɜːtən/ (KUR-tun).