How to pronounce jargon
Say it like JAR-gun. Jargon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce jargon. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JAR
- gun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Jargon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- gunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of jargon
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: JAH-gun.
What does jargon mean?
- A technical terminology unique to a particular subject.“He used technical jargon but I managed to catch the drift of his argument.”
- A language characteristic of a particular group.
- Speech or language that is incomprehensible or unintelligible; gibberish.“Cut the jargon and get to your point.”
- Alternative form of jargoon (“A variety of zircon”).
- To utter jargon; to emit confused or unintelligible sounds.
Where does jargon come from?
From Middle English jargoun, jargon, from Old French jargon, a variant of gargon, gargun (“chatter; talk; language”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- cant
- lingo
- slang
- vernacular
Words that rhyme with jargon
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of jargon.
Questions about saying jargon
How do you pronounce jargon?
Say JAR-gun. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʒɑrɡən/. In British English it is /ˈdʒɑːɡən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in jargon?
Jargon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JAR). Broken into parts: JAR · gun.
Is jargon 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 /ˈdʒɑːɡən/ (JAH-gun).