How to pronounce driven
Say it like DRIV-un. Driven has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DRIV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce driven. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DRIV
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Driven pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DRIVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of driven
American and British speakers say driven in essentially the same way: /ˈdrɪvən/ in the US and /ˈdrɪvən/ in the UK.
British respelling: DRIV-un.
What does driven mean?
- compelled forcibly by an outside agency“mobs goaded by blind hatred”
- urged or forced to action through moral pressure“felt impelled to take a stand against the issue”
- strongly motivated to succeed
Where does driven come from?
From drive + -en.
Words that rhyme with driven
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of driven.
Questions about saying driven
How do you pronounce driven?
Say DRIV-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈdrɪvən/. In British English it is /ˈdrɪvən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in driven?
Driven has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DRIV). Broken into parts: DRIV · un.
Do Americans and Brits say driven the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdrɪvən/ and the British form is /ˈdrɪvən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.