How to pronounce firstborn
Say it like FURST-born. Firstborn has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FURST).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce firstborn. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FURST
- born
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Firstborn pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FURSTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- bornGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of firstborn
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FURST-bawn.
What does firstborn mean?
- The first child to be born to a parent or family.
- Born as the first one in a family, flock or the like.
- Most excellent; most distinguished or exalted.
Where does firstborn come from?
From Middle English first borne.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying firstborn
How do you pronounce firstborn?
Say FURST-born. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɝstˌbɔrn/. In British English it is /ˈfɜːstˌbɔːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in firstborn?
Firstborn has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FURST). Broken into parts: FURST · born.
Is firstborn 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 /ˈfɜːstˌbɔːn/ (FURST-bawn).