How to pronounce maiden
Say it like MAY-dun. Maiden has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce maiden. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MAY
- dun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Maiden pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- dunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of maiden
American and British speakers say maiden in essentially the same way: /ˈmeɪdən/ in the US and /ˈmeɪdən/ in the UK.
British respelling: MAY-dun.
What does maiden mean?
- an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
- (cricket) an over in which no runs are scored
- serving to set in motion“the magazine's inaugural issue”“the initiative phase in the negotiations”
Where does maiden come from?
From Middle English mayden, meiden, from Old English mæġden (“girl”), originally a diminutive of mæġeþ (“girl”) via diminutive suffix -en, from Proto-West Germanic *magaþ, from Proto-Germanic *magaþs.
Words that rhyme with maiden
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of maiden.
Questions about saying maiden
How do you pronounce maiden?
Say MAY-dun. The American pronunciation is /ˈmeɪdən/. In British English it is /ˈmeɪdən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in maiden?
Maiden has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MAY). Broken into parts: MAY · dun.
Do Americans and Brits say maiden the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmeɪdən/ and the British form is /ˈmeɪdən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.