How to pronounce john
Say it like JON. John 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 john. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JON
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
John pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of john
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: JON.
What does john mean?
- a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
- youngest son of Henry II; King of England from 1199 to 1216; succeeded to the throne on the death of his brother Richard I; lost his French possessions; in 1215 John was compelled by the barons to sign the Magna Carta (1167-1216)
- (New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally said to be the author of the 4th Gospel and three epistles and the book of Revelation
Where does john come from?
From the male given name John (q.v.), whose ubiquity led to extensive use of the name in generic contexts.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with john
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of john.
Questions about saying john
How do you pronounce john?
Say JON. The American pronunciation is /dʒɑn/. In British English it is /dʒɒn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in john?
John is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: JON.
Is john pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /dʒɒn/ (JON).