How to pronounce flounder
Say it like FLOWN-der. Flounder has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FLOWN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce flounder. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FLOWN
- der
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Flounder pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FLOWNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of flounder
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FLOWN-duh.
What does flounder mean?
- To act clumsily or confused; to struggle or be flustered.“He gave a good speech, but floundered when audience members asked questions he could not answer well.”
- To flop around as a fish out of water.
- To make clumsy attempts to move or regain one's balance.“Robert yanked Connie's leg vigorously, causing her to flounder and eventually fall.”
- A European species of flatfish having dull brown coloring with reddish-brown blotches; fluke, European flounder (Platichthys flesus).
- Any of various flatfish of the family Pleuronectidae or Bothidae.
- A bootmaker's tool for crimping boot fronts.
Where does flounder come from?
From Middle English flowndre, from Anglo-Norman floundre, from Old Northern French flondre, from Old Norse flyðra, from Proto-Germanic *flunþrijǭ.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with flounder
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of flounder.
Questions about saying flounder
How do you pronounce flounder?
Say FLOWN-der. The American pronunciation is /ˈflaʊndɚ/. In British English it is /ˈflaʊndə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in flounder?
Flounder has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FLOWN). Broken into parts: FLOWN · der.
Is flounder 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 /ˈflaʊndə/ (FLOWN-duh).