How to pronounce stern
Say it like STURN. Stern is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- STURN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stern pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STURNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of stern
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: STURN.
What does stern mean?
- Having a hardness and severity of nature or manner.
- Grim and forbidding in appearance.“The remark earned me a stern rebuke.”
- The rear part (after end) of a ship or other vessel.
- The post of management or direction.
- The hinder part of anything.
- To propel or move backward or stern-first in the water.
Where does stern come from?
From Middle English stern, sterne, sturne, from Old English styrne (“stern, grave, strict, austere, hard, severe, cruel”), from Proto-Germanic *sturnijaz (“angry, astonished, shocked”), from Proto-Indo-European *ster- (“rigid, stiff”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with stern
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of stern.
Words that sound like stern
- sterne
Questions about saying stern
How do you pronounce stern?
Say STURN. The American pronunciation is /stɝn/. In British English it is /stɜːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in stern?
Stern is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STURN.
Is stern 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 /stɜːn/ (STURN).
What words sound the same as stern?
Stern sounds the same as sterne in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.