How to pronounce intern
Say it like IN-tern. Intern has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (IN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce intern. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- IN
- tern
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Intern pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- INSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ternKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of intern
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: IN-turn.
What does intern mean?
- an advanced student or graduate in medicine gaining supervised practical experience (houseman is a British term)
- deprive of freedom“During WW II, Japanese were interned in camps in the West”
- work as an intern“The young doctor is interning at the Medical Center this year”
Where does intern come from?
From French interner, from interne (“inner, internal”), from Latin internus (“within, internal”), compare Etymology 2.
Questions about saying intern
How do you pronounce intern?
Say IN-tern. The American pronunciation is /ˈɪntɚn/. In British English it is /ˈɪntɜːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in intern?
Intern has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (IN). Broken into parts: IN · tern.
Is intern 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 /ˈɪntɜːn/ (IN-turn).