How to pronounce membrane
Say it like MEM-brayn. Membrane has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce membrane. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MEM
- brayn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Membrane pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- braynGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of membrane
American and British speakers say membrane in essentially the same way: /ˈmɛmˌbreɪn/ in the US and /ˈmɛmˌbreɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: MEM-brayn.
What does membrane mean?
- a thin pliable sheet of material
- a pliable sheet of tissue that covers or lines or connects the organs or cells of animals or plants
Where does membrane come from?
Late Middle English, borrowed from Latin membrāna (“skin or membrane that covers parts of the body”), from membrum (“a limb or member of the body”) + -āna.
Questions about saying membrane
How do you pronounce membrane?
Say MEM-brayn. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɛmˌbreɪn/. In British English it is /ˈmɛmˌbreɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in membrane?
Membrane has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MEM). Broken into parts: MEM · brayn.
Do Americans and Brits say membrane the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈmɛmˌbreɪn/ and the British form is /ˈmɛmˌbreɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.