How to pronounce eastern
Say it like EE-stern. Eastern has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce eastern. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EE
- stern
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Eastern pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- sternKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of eastern
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: EE-stun.
What does eastern mean?
- lying toward or situated in the east“the eastern end of the island”
- of or characteristic of eastern regions of the United States“the Eastern establishment”
- lying in or toward the east“the east side of New York”“eastern cities”
Where does eastern come from?
Morphologically east + -ern.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying eastern
How do you pronounce eastern?
Say EE-stern. The American pronunciation is /ˈistɚn/. In British English it is /ˈiːstən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in eastern?
Eastern has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EE). Broken into parts: EE · stern.
Is eastern 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 /ˈiːstən/ (EE-stun).