How to pronounce liven
Say it like LY-vun. Liven 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 liven. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LY
- vun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Liven 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.
- vunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of liven
American and British speakers say liven in essentially the same way: /ˈlaɪvən/ in the US and /ˈlaɪvən/ in the UK.
British respelling: LY-vun.
What does liven mean?
- To cause to be more lively, or to become more lively.“Let's liven up this party!”
Where does liven come from?
Partly from life + -en; partly from live (adjective) + -en; and partly a shortening of enliven.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying liven
How do you pronounce liven?
Say LY-vun. The American pronunciation is /ˈlaɪvən/. In British English it is /ˈlaɪvən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in liven?
Liven has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LY). Broken into parts: LY · vun.
Do Americans and Brits say liven the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlaɪvən/ and the British form is /ˈlaɪvən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.