How to pronounce oxen
Say it like OK-sun. Oxen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce oxen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OK
- sun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Oxen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- sunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of oxen
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: OK-sun.
What does oxen mean?
Where does oxen come from?
From Middle English oxen, from Old English oxan, from Proto-West Germanic *ohsan, from Proto-Germanic *uhsniz, nominative and accusative plural of *uhsô (“ox”), equivalent to ox + -en (plural ending).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with oxen
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of oxen.
Questions about saying oxen
How do you pronounce oxen?
Say OK-sun. The American pronunciation is /ˈɑksən/. In British English it is /ˈɒksən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in oxen?
Oxen has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OK). Broken into parts: OK · sun.
Is oxen 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 /ˈɒksən/ (OK-sun).