How to pronounce done
Say it like DUHN. Done is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- DUHN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Done pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of done
American and British speakers say done in essentially the same way: /dʌn/ in the US and /dʌn/ in the UK.
British respelling: DUHN.
What does done mean?
- Having completed or finished an activity.“He pushed his empty plate away, sighed and pronounced "I am done."”
- Completed or finished.“I'll text you when the movie's done.”
- Ready, fully cooked.“As soon as the potatoes are done we can sit down and eat.”
- past participle of do How to pronounce do“There's nothing to be done.”
- Used in forming the perfective aspect; have.“I woke up and found out she done left.”
- Expresses that a task has been completed.
- Expresses agreement to and conclusion of a proposal, a set of terms, a sale, a request, etc.
Where does done come from?
From Middle English don, idon, ydon, ȝedon, gedon, from Old English dōn, ġedōn, from Proto-West Germanic *dān, from Proto-Germanic *dēnaz (past participle of *dōną (“to do”)).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with done
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of done.
Words that sound like done
Questions about saying done
How do you pronounce done?
Say DUHN. The American pronunciation is /dʌn/. In British English it is /dʌn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in done?
Done is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DUHN.
Do Americans and Brits say done the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dʌn/ and the British form is /dʌn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as done?
Done sounds the same as Donne, dun, Dunn, dunne in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.