How to pronounce foreign
Say it like FOR-un. Foreign has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR).
- FOR
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: The g is silent. Say 'FOR-un', with a short, quick second syllable.
Foreign 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.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of foreign
American and British speakers say foreign in essentially the same way: /ˈfɔrən/ in the US and /ˈfɒrɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: FOR-in.
Other ways to say foreign
Foreign also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- FAR-un /ˈfɑrən/
What does foreign mean?
- Located outside a country or place, especially one's own.“foreign markets; foreign soil”
- Originating from, characteristic of, belonging to, or being a citizen of a country or place other than the one under discussion.“foreign car; foreign word; foreign citizen; foreign trade”
- Relating to a different nation.“foreign policy; foreign navies”
- A foreigner: a person from another country.
- A foreign whip, a car produced abroad.
Where does foreign come from?
The silent -g- added perhaps by analogy with reign (compare also sovereign which was similarly altered).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with foreign
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of foreign.
Questions about saying foreign
How do you pronounce foreign?
Say FOR-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɔrən/. In British English it is /ˈfɒrɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in foreign?
Foreign has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR). Broken into parts: FOR · un.
Do Americans and Brits say foreign the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfɔrən/ and the British form is /ˈfɒrɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.