How to pronounce gun
Say it like GUHN. Gun 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 gun. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- GUHN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Gun pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- GUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of gun
American and British speakers say gun in essentially the same way: /ɡʌn/ in the US and /ɡʌn/ in the UK.
British respelling: GUHN.
What does gun mean?
- a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
- large but transportable armament
- a person who shoots a gun (as regards their ability)
- shoot with a gun
Where does gun come from?
From Middle English gunne, gonne, possibly from Gunnhild, a female given name formerly used as a nickname for engines of war (compare Nordic Gunn, a female name meaning “battle”).
Words that rhyme with gun
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of gun.
Questions about saying gun
How do you pronounce gun?
Say GUHN. The American pronunciation is /ɡʌn/. In British English it is /ɡʌn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in gun?
Gun is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: GUHN.
Do Americans and Brits say gun the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɡʌn/ and the British form is /ɡʌn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.