How to pronounce frighten
Say it like FRY-tun. Frighten has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FRY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce frighten. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FRY
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Frighten pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FRYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of frighten
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: FRY-tun.
What does frighten mean?
- To cause to feel fear; to scare; to cause to feel alarm or fright.“Avery puts a sheet over her head, pretending to be a ghost to frighten Emily.”
- To become scared or alarmed.
Where does frighten come from?
From Middle English *frightenen, equivalent to fright + -en.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with frighten
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of frighten.
Questions about saying frighten
How do you pronounce frighten?
Say FRY-tun. The American pronunciation is /ˈfraɪtən/. In British English it is /ˈfraɪtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in frighten?
Frighten has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FRY). Broken into parts: FRY · tun.
Is frighten pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈfraɪtən/ (FRY-tun).