How to pronounce London
Say it like LUHN-dun. London has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LUHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce London. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LUHN
- dun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
London pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- dunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of London
American and British speakers say London in essentially the same way: /ˈlʌndən/ in the US and /ˈlʌndən/ in the UK.
British respelling: LUHN-dun.
What does London mean?
- The capital city of the United Kingdom; the capital city of England, within Greater London. Situated on the tidal River Thames in southeast England, with a metropolitan population of more than 13,000,000.
- The government of the United Kingdom, otherwise known as Westminster.
Where does London come from?
From Middle English Londoun, from Old English Lunden, from Proto-Celtic via Latin Londinium – see for details.
Questions about saying London
How do you pronounce London?
Say LUHN-dun. The American pronunciation is /ˈlʌndən/. In British English it is /ˈlʌndən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in London?
London has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LUHN). Broken into parts: LUHN · dun.
Do Americans and Brits say London the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlʌndən/ and the British form is /ˈlʌndən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.