How to pronounce onsen
Say it like on-SEN. Onsen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce onsen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- on
- SEN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Onsen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- onKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- SENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of onsen
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: on-SEN.
What does onsen mean?
- A (Japanese) hot spring.“The hottest springs in Japan aren't in the north but at the Obama Onsen outside Nagasaki.”
- A Japanese-style resort hotel at a natural hot spring, offering on-site bathing.“We stayed at a traditional onsen with tatami, yukata, and kaiseki at Onyang outside Seoul.”
Words that rhyme with onsen
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of onsen.
Questions about saying onsen
How do you pronounce onsen?
Say on-SEN. The American pronunciation is /ɑnˈsɛn/. In British English it is /ɒnˈsɛn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in onsen?
Onsen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEN). Broken into parts: on · SEN.
Is onsen pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ɒnˈsɛn/ (on-SEN).