How to pronounce forlorn
Say it like fer-LORN. Forlorn has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LORN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce forlorn. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- fer
- LORN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Forlorn pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ferKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- LORNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of forlorn
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: fuh-LAWN.
What does forlorn mean?
- Abandoned, deserted, left behind.
- Pitifully sad, wretched, miserable; lonely, especially from feeling abandoned, deserted, forsaken.
- Unlikely to succeed; hopeless.
- A forlorn hope.
- A member of a forlorn hope.
Where does forlorn come from?
German verloren (“lost”), Swedish förlorad (“lost”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with forlorn
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of forlorn.
Questions about saying forlorn
How do you pronounce forlorn?
Say fer-LORN. The American pronunciation is /fɚˈlɔrn/. In British English it is /fəˈlɔːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in forlorn?
Forlorn has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LORN). Broken into parts: fer · LORN.
Is forlorn 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 /fəˈlɔːn/ (fuh-LAWN).