How to pronounce nun
Say it like NUHN. Nun is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce nun. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- NUHN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Nun pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- NUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of nun
American and British speakers say nun in essentially the same way: /nʌn/ in the US and /nʌn/ in the UK.
British respelling: NUHN.
What does nun mean?
- a woman religious
- a buoy resembling a cone
- the 14th letter of the Hebrew alphabet
Where does nun come from?
From Middle English nonne, nunne, from Old English nunne (“nun”), from Late Latin nonna (“nun, tutor”), originally (along with masculine form nonnus (“man”)) a term of address for elderly persons, perhaps from children's speech, reminiscent
Words that rhyme with nun
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of nun.
Words that sound like nun
Questions about saying nun
How do you pronounce nun?
Say NUHN. The American pronunciation is /nʌn/. In British English it is /nʌn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in nun?
Nun is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: NUHN.
Do Americans and Brits say nun the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /nʌn/ and the British form is /nʌn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as nun?
Nun sounds the same as none in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.