How to pronounce former
Say it like FOR-mer. Former has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR).
- FOR
- mer
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Former 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.
- merKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of former
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: FAW-muh.
What does former mean?
- Previous.“A former president”
- The first of aforementioned two items.“The former is a good idea but the latter is not.”
- Someone who forms something; a maker; a creator or founder.“Dave was the former of the company.”
- An object used to form something, such as a template, gauge, or cutting die.“The brick arch was built using a wooden former.”
- Someone in, or of, a certain form (class).“Fifth-former.”
Where does former come from?
Inherited from Middle English former, comparative of forme (“first”), from Old English forma (“first”), descended from Proto-Germanic *frumô.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with former
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of former.
Questions about saying former
How do you pronounce former?
Say FOR-mer. The American pronunciation is /ˈfɔrmɚ/. In British English it is /ˈfɔːmə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in former?
Former has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FOR). Broken into parts: FOR · mer.
Is former 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 /ˈfɔːmə/ (FAW-muh).