How to pronounce drone
Say it like DROHN. Drone is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- DROHN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Drone pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DROHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of drone
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: DROHN.
What does drone mean?
- A male hymenopteran (ant, bee, hornet, or wasp), whose sole primary function is to mate with the queen.
- One who performs menial or tedious work.
- Any remotely operated or autonomous vehicle for land, sea, air, or space.“aerial drones”
- To kill or destroy with a drone (unmanned aircraft), or with a missile fired by a drone.
- To produce a low-pitched hum or buzz.
- To speak in a monotone.
Where does drone come from?
The etymology of the sense of "remote-controlled aircraft" is disputed; theories include early military UAVs dumbly flying on preset paths.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with drone
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of drone.
Questions about saying drone
How do you pronounce drone?
Say DROHN. The American pronunciation is /droʊn/. In British English it is /drəʊn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in drone?
Drone is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DROHN.
Is drone pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /drəʊn/ (DROHN).