How to pronounce drunk
Say it like DRUHNGK. Drunk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce drunk. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DRUHNGK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Drunk pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DRUHNGKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of drunk
American and British speakers say drunk in essentially the same way: /drʌŋk/ in the US and /drʌŋk/ in the UK.
British respelling: DRUHNGK.
What does drunk mean?
- stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)“a noisy crowd of intoxicated sailors”“helplessly inebriated”
- as if under the influence of alcohol“felt intoxicated by her success”“drunk with excitement”
- a chronic drinker
- someone who is intoxicated
Where does drunk come from?
getrunken, betrunken, Swedish drucken, Icelandic drukkinn.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with drunk
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of drunk.
Questions about saying drunk
How do you pronounce drunk?
Say DRUHNGK. The American pronunciation is /drʌŋk/. In British English it is /drʌŋk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in drunk?
Drunk is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DRUHNGK.
Do Americans and Brits say drunk the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /drʌŋk/ and the British form is /drʌŋk/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.