How to pronounce importune
Say it like im-por-TOON. Importune has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TOON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce importune. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- por
- TOON
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Importune pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- imKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- porKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- TOONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of importune
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- British speakers add a light "y" sound before the "oo" (as in "tyoon" for tune).
British respelling: im-paw-TYOON.
What does importune mean?
- To bother, irritate, trouble.
- To harass with persistent requests.
Where does importune come from?
From Middle French importuner and its etymon Medieval Latin importūnor (“to make oneself troublesome”), from Latin importūnus (“unfit, troublesome”), originally "having no harbor".
Words that rhyme with importune
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of importune.
Questions about saying importune
How do you pronounce importune?
Say im-por-TOON. The American pronunciation is /ɪmpɔrˈtun/. In British English it is /ɪmpɔːˈtjuːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in importune?
Importune has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TOON). Broken into parts: im · por · TOON.
Is importune 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 /ɪmpɔːˈtjuːn/ (im-paw-TYOON).