How to pronounce strained
Say it like STRAYND. Strained 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 strained. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STRAYND
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Strained pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STRAYNDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of strained
American and British speakers say strained in essentially the same way: /streɪnd/ in the US and /streɪnd/ in the UK.
British respelling: STRAYND.
What does strained mean?
- lacking natural ease“a labored style of debating”
- showing signs of mental and emotional tension“her voice was strained as she asked the question”
- lacking spontaneity; not natural“a constrained smile”“forced heartiness”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with strained
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of strained.
Questions about saying strained
How do you pronounce strained?
Say STRAYND. The American pronunciation is /streɪnd/. In British English it is /streɪnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in strained?
Strained is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: STRAYND.
Do Americans and Brits say strained the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /streɪnd/ and the British form is /streɪnd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.