How to pronounce pardon
Say it like PAR-dun. Pardon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pardon. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PAR
- dun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pardon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PARSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- dunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of pardon
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: PAH-dun.
What does pardon mean?
- accept an excuse for“Please excuse my dirty hands”
- grant a pardon to“Ford pardoned Nixon”“The Thanksgiving turkey was pardoned by the President”
- the act of excusing a mistake or offense
- a warrant granting release from punishment for an offense
- the formal act of liberating someone
Where does pardon come from?
From Middle English pardonen, from Old French pardoner (modern French pardonner), from Late Latin perdōnāre, from per- + dōnāre, possibly a calque (if not vice-versa) of a Germanic word represented by Frankish *firgeban (“to forgive, give u
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pardon
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pardon.
Questions about saying pardon
How do you pronounce pardon?
Say PAR-dun. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɑrdən/. In British English it is /ˈpɑːdən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pardon?
Pardon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PAR). Broken into parts: PAR · dun.
Is pardon pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˈpɑːdən/ (PAH-dun).