How to pronounce frown
Say it like FROWN. Frown 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 frown. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FROWN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Frown pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FROWNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of frown
American and British speakers say frown in essentially the same way: /fraʊn/ in the US and /fraʊn/ in the UK.
British respelling: FROWN.
What does frown mean?
- To have a frown on one's face.“She frowned when I told her the news.”
- To manifest displeasure or disapprobation; to look with disfavour or threateningly.“Noisy gossip in the library is frowned upon.”
- To repress or repel by expressing displeasure or disapproval; to rebuke with a look.“Let us frown the impudent fellow into silence.”
- A wrinkling of the forehead with the eyebrows brought together, typically indicating displeasure, severity, or concentration.
- A downturn of the corners of the mouth, typically expressing sadness.
- Any facial expression that indicates disapproval or displeasure.
Where does frown come from?
From Middle English frown, froun (“a threatening appearance; lowering of the clouds”), from frounen (“to frown”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with frown
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of frown.
Questions about saying frown
How do you pronounce frown?
Say FROWN. The American pronunciation is /fraʊn/. In British English it is /fraʊn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in frown?
Frown is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FROWN.
Do Americans and Brits say frown the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /fraʊn/ and the British form is /fraʊn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.