How to pronounce soften
Say it like SOF-un. Soften has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce soften. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SOF
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Soften pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SOFSay 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 soften
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: SOF-tun.
Other ways to say soften
Soften also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- SAW-fun /ˈsɔfən/
What does soften mean?
- To make something soft or softer.“Soften the butter before beating in the sugar.”
- To undermine the morale of someone (often soften up).“Before the invasion, we softened up the enemy with the artillery.”
- To make less harsh.“Having second thoughts, I softened my criticism.”
Where does soften come from?
From Middle English softenen, softnen, equivalent to soft + -en.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying soften
How do you pronounce soften?
Say SOF-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɑfən/. In British English it is /ˈsɒftən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in soften?
Soften has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SOF). Broken into parts: SOF · un.
Is soften 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 /ˈsɒftən/ (SOF-tun).