How to pronounce lengthen
Say it like LENG-thun. Lengthen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LENG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce lengthen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LENG
- thun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lengthen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LENGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- thunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of lengthen
American and British speakers say lengthen in essentially the same way: /ˈlɛŋθən/ in the US and /ˈlɛŋθən/ in the UK.
British respelling: LENG-thun.
What does lengthen mean?
- To make longer, to extend the length of.“You need to lengthen the story if you want to have it published.”
- To become longer.“The shadows on the lawn lengthened as the sun began to set.”
Where does lengthen come from?
From length + -en.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with lengthen
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lengthen.
Questions about saying lengthen
How do you pronounce lengthen?
Say LENG-thun. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɛŋθən/. In British English it is /ˈlɛŋθən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lengthen?
Lengthen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LENG). Broken into parts: LENG · thun.
Do Americans and Brits say lengthen the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɛŋθən/ and the British form is /ˈlɛŋθən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.