How to pronounce linchpin
Say it like LINCH-pin. Linchpin has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LINCH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce linchpin. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LINCH
- pin
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Linchpin pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LINCHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- pinGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of linchpin
American and British speakers say linchpin in essentially the same way: /ˈlɪntʃˌpɪn/ in the US and /ˈlɪntʃˌpɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: LINCH-pin.
What does linchpin mean?
- A pin inserted through holes at the end of an axle or shaft, so as to secure a wheel or shaft-mounted device.
- A central cohesive source of stability and security; a person or thing that is critical to a system or organization.
- To adopt as, or serve as, a central cohesive source of stability and security.
Where does linchpin come from?
From Middle English lynspin, compound of lins (“axletree”) and pin, from Old English lynis (“lynchpin”), from Proto-West Germanic *lunis, from Proto-Germanic *lunaz – compare German Lünse and Dutch luns – from Proto-Indo-European.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying linchpin
How do you pronounce linchpin?
Say LINCH-pin. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɪntʃˌpɪn/. In British English it is /ˈlɪntʃˌpɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in linchpin?
Linchpin has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LINCH). Broken into parts: LINCH · pin.
Do Americans and Brits say linchpin the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɪntʃˌpɪn/ and the British form is /ˈlɪntʃˌpɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.