How to pronounce foreground
Say it like FOR-grownd. Foreground has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce foreground. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FOR
- grownd
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Foreground pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- growndGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of foreground
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FAW-grownd.
What does foreground mean?
- The elements of an image which lie closest to the picture plane.
- The subject of an image, often depicted at the bottom in a two-dimensional work.
- The application the user is currently interacting with; the application window that appears in front of all others.
- To place in the foreground (physically or metaphorically).
Where does foreground come from?
From fore- + ground. Compare Dutch voorgrond (“foreground”), German Vordergrund (“foreground”), Danish forgrund (“foreground”), Swedish förgrund (“foreground”), Norwegian forgrunn (“foreground”), Icelandic forgrunni (“foreground”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying foreground
How do you pronounce foreground?
Say FOR-grownd. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɔrˌɡraʊnd/. In British English it is /ˈfɔːˌɡraʊnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in foreground?
Foreground has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR). Broken into parts: FOR · grownd.
Is foreground 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 /ˈfɔːˌɡraʊnd/ (FAW-grownd).