How to pronounce rotten
Say it like ROT-un. Rotten has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce rotten. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ROT
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Rotten pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ROTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of rotten
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: ROT-un.
What does rotten mean?
- very bad“a lousy play”“it's a stinking world”
- damaged by decay; hence unsound and useless“rotten floor boards”“rotted beams”
- having decayed or disintegrated; usually implies foulness“dead and rotten in his grave”
Where does rotten come from?
From Middle English roten, from Old Norse rotinn (“decayed, rotten”), past participle of an unrecorded verb related to Old Norse rotna (“to rot”) and Old English rotian (“to rot”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *rutāną (“to rot”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with rotten
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of rotten.
Questions about saying rotten
How do you pronounce rotten?
Say ROT-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈrɑtən/. In British English it is /ˈrɒtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in rotten?
Rotten has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (ROT). Broken into parts: ROT · un.
Is rotten 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 /ˈrɒtən/ (ROT-un).