How to pronounce linen
Say it like LIN-un. Linen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce linen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LIN
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Linen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LINSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of linen
American and British speakers say linen in essentially the same way: /ˈlɪnən/ in the US and /ˈlɪnɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: LIN-in.
What does linen mean?
- a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
- a high-quality paper made of linen fibers or with a linen finish
- white goods or clothing made with linen cloth
Where does linen come from?
From Middle English lynnen, lynen, from Old English līnen (“linen", "made of flax”), from Proto-West Germanic *līnīn (“made of flax”), from Proto-Germanic *līną (“flax”), from Proto-Indo-European *līno- (“flax”), equivalent to line + -en.
Questions about saying linen
How do you pronounce linen?
Say LIN-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈlɪnən/. In British English it is /ˈlɪnɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in linen?
Linen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LIN). Broken into parts: LIN · un.
Do Americans and Brits say linen the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlɪnən/ and the British form is /ˈlɪnɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.