How to pronounce pun
Say it like PUHN. Pun 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 pun. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PUHN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pun pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of pun
American and British speakers say pun in essentially the same way: /pʌn/ in the US and /pʌn/ in the UK.
British respelling: PUHN.
What does pun mean?
- a humorous play on words“I do it for the pun of it”“his constant punning irritated her”
- make a play on words“Japanese like to pun--their language is well suited to punning”
Where does pun come from?
From Middle English ponnen, ponen, punen, from Old English punian, pūnian (“to pound, beat, bray, bruise, crush, grind”), from Proto-Germanic *punōną (“to break to pieces, pulverize”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- wordplay
Words that rhyme with pun
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pun.
Questions about saying pun
How do you pronounce pun?
Say PUHN. The American pronunciation is /pʌn/. In British English it is /pʌn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pun?
Pun is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: PUHN.
Do Americans and Brits say pun the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pʌn/ and the British form is /pʌn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.