How to pronounce liken
Say it like LY-kun. Liken has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce liken. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LY
- kun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Liken pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- kunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of liken
American and British speakers say liken in essentially the same way: /ˈlaɪkən/ in the US and /ˈlaɪkən/ in the UK.
British respelling: LY-kun.
What does liken mean?
- Followed by to or (archaic) unto: to regard or state that (someone or something) is like another person or thing; to compare.“The physics teacher likened the effect of mass on space to an indentation in a sheet of rubber.”
- Chiefly followed by to: to make (oneself, someone, or something) resemble another person or thing.
- To represent or symbolize (something).
Where does liken come from?
From Middle English liknen (“to be comparable; to compare (often disparagingly); to make (someone) equal to another person; to regard (something) as equal to another thing; to regard (something) as likely; to resemble; to take (something) a
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with liken
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of liken.
Words that sound like liken
Questions about saying liken
How do you pronounce liken?
Say LY-kun. The American pronunciation is /ˈlaɪkən/. In British English it is /ˈlaɪkən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in liken?
Liken has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LY). Broken into parts: LY · kun.
Do Americans and Brits say liken the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlaɪkən/ and the British form is /ˈlaɪkən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as liken?
Liken sounds the same as lichen in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.