How to pronounce pen
Say it like PEN. Pen 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 pen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PEN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of pen
American and British speakers say pen in essentially the same way: /pɛn/ in the US and /pɛn/ in the UK.
British respelling: PEN.
What does pen mean?
- a writing implement with a point from which ink flows
- an enclosure for confining livestock
- a portable enclosure in which babies may be left to play
- produce a literary work“She composed a poem”“He wrote four novels”
Where does pen come from?
Sense “prison” originally figurative extension to “enclosure for persons” (1845), later influenced by penitentiary (“prison”), being analyzed as an abbreviation (1884).
Words that rhyme with pen
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pen.
Questions about saying pen
How do you pronounce pen?
Say PEN. The American pronunciation is /pɛn/. In British English it is /pɛn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pen?
Pen is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PEN.
Do Americans and Brits say pen the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pɛn/ and the British form is /pɛn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.