How to pronounce modern
Say it like MOD-ern. Modern has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce modern. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- MOD
- ern
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Modern pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- MODSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- ernKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of modern
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: MOD-un.
What does modern mean?
- belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages“modern art”“modern furniture”
- relating to a recently developed fashion or style“their offices are in a modern skyscraper”“tables in modernistic designs”
- characteristic of present-day art and music and literature and architecture
- a contemporary person
- a typeface (based on an 18th century design by Gianbattista Bodoni) distinguished by regular shape and hairline serifs and heavy downstrokes
Where does modern come from?
From Middle French moderne, from Late Latin modernus; from Latin modo (“just now”), originally ablative of modus (“measure”); hence, by measure, "just now".
Questions about saying modern
How do you pronounce modern?
Say MOD-ern. The American pronunciation is /ˈmɑdɚn/. In British English it is /ˈmɒdən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in modern?
Modern has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (MOD). Broken into parts: MOD · ern.
Is modern pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈmɒdən/ (MOD-un).