How to pronounce greenhorn
Say it like GREEN-horn. Greenhorn has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GREEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce greenhorn. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GREEN
- horn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Greenhorn pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GREENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- hornGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of greenhorn
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: GREEN-horn.
What does greenhorn mean?
- An inexperienced person; a novice, beginner, or newcomer.
Where does greenhorn come from?
Inherited from Middle English grene horn, which is attested for “horn of a recently killed animal” and as the name of a horse.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying greenhorn
How do you pronounce greenhorn?
Say GREEN-horn. The American pronunciation is /ˈɡrinˌhoʊrn/. In British English it is /ˈɡriːnˌhɔːrn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in greenhorn?
Greenhorn has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (GREEN). Broken into parts: GREEN · horn.
Is greenhorn 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 /ˈɡriːnˌhɔːrn/ (GREEN-horn).