How to pronounce friend
Say it like FREND. Friend is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce friend. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FREND
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Friend pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FRENDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of friend
American and British speakers say friend in essentially the same way: /frɛnd/ in the US and /frɛnd/ in the UK.
British respelling: FREND.
What does friend mean?
- a person you know well and regard with affection and trust“he was my best friend at the university”
- an associate who provides cooperation or assistance“he's a good ally in fight”
- a person with whom you are acquainted“I have trouble remembering the names of all my acquaintances”“we are friends of the family”
Where does friend come from?
Cognate with Scots freend (“friend”), Yola friend, vriene (“friend”), North Frisian frinj, frün (“friend”), Saterland Frisian Fjund, Früünd (“friend”), West Frisian freon, freondinne (“friend”), Cimbrian bròint, vròint (“friend”), Dutch vri
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with friend
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of friend.
Questions about saying friend
How do you pronounce friend?
Say FREND. The American pronunciation is /frɛnd/. In British English it is /frɛnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in friend?
Friend is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FREND.
Do Americans and Brits say friend the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /frɛnd/ and the British form is /frɛnd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.