How to pronounce one
Say it like WUHN. One 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 one. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WUHN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
One pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of one
American and British speakers say one in essentially the same way: /wʌn/ in the US and /wʌn/ in the UK.
British respelling: WUHN.
What does one mean?
- used of a single unit or thing; not two or more“`ane' is Scottish”
- having the indivisible character of a unit“a unitary action”“spoke with one voice”
- of the same kind or quality“two animals of one species”
- the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number“he has the one but will need a two and three to go with it”“they had lunch at one”
- a single person or thing“he is the best one”“this is the one I ordered”
Where does one come from?
Verb form from Middle English onen.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with one
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of one.
Words that sound like one
Questions about saying one
How do you pronounce one?
Say WUHN. The American pronunciation is /wʌn/. In British English it is /wʌn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in one?
One is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WUHN.
Do Americans and Brits say one the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /wʌn/ and the British form is /wʌn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as one?
One sounds the same as won in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.