How to pronounce onion
Say it like UHN-yun. Onion has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce onion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- UHN
- yun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Onion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- UHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- yunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of onion
American and British speakers say onion in essentially the same way: /ˈʌnjən/ in the US and /ˈʌnjən/ in the UK.
British respelling: UHN-yun.
What does onion mean?
- the bulb of an onion plant
- bulbous plant having hollow leaves cultivated worldwide for its rounded edible bulb
- an aromatic flavorful vegetable
Words that rhyme with onion
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of onion.
Questions about saying onion
How do you pronounce onion?
Say UHN-yun. The American pronunciation is /ˈʌnjən/. In British English it is /ˈʌnjən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in onion?
Onion has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UHN). Broken into parts: UHN · yun.
Do Americans and Brits say onion the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈʌnjən/ and the British form is /ˈʌnjən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.