How to pronounce strain
Say it like STRAYN. Strain 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 strain. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STRAYN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Strain pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STRAYNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of strain
American and British speakers say strain in essentially the same way: /streɪn/ in the US and /streɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: STRAYN.
What does strain mean?
- (physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
- difficulty that causes worry or emotional tension“she endured the stresses and strains of life”“he presided over the economy during the period of the greatest stress and danger”
- a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence“she was humming an air from Beethoven”
- to exert much effort or energy“straining our ears to hear”
- test the limits of“You are trying my patience!”
- use to the utmost; exert vigorously or to full capacity“He really extended himself when he climbed Kilimanjaro”“Don't strain your mind too much”
Where does strain come from?
From Middle English streen, strene, streon, istreon (“race, stock, generation”), from Old English strēon, ġestrēon (“gain, wealth”), from Proto-West Germanic *streun, from Proto-Germanic *streuną (“heap, treasure, profit, gain”), from Proto
Words that rhyme with strain
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of strain.
Questions about saying strain
How do you pronounce strain?
Say STRAYN. The American pronunciation is /streɪn/. In British English it is /streɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in strain?
Strain is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STRAYN.
Do Americans and Brits say strain the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /streɪn/ and the British form is /streɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.