How to pronounce stubborn
Say it like STUHB-ern. Stubborn has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STUHB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce stubborn. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- STUHB
- ern
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Stubborn pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- STUHBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- ernKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of stubborn
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: STUHB-un.
What does stubborn mean?
- tenaciously unwilling or marked by tenacious unwillingness to yield
- not responding to treatment“a stubborn infection”“a refractory case of acne”
Where does stubborn come from?
From Middle English stiborne, stibourne, stoburn, stoburne, styburne, stiborn, of uncertain origin; one hypothesis is that it may be from Old English *stybbor, from Old English stybb (“a stump, stub”) + -or (adjective-formation suffix, as i
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying stubborn
How do you pronounce stubborn?
Say STUHB-ern. The American pronunciation is /ˈstʌbɚn/. In British English it is /ˈstʌbən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in stubborn?
Stubborn has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (STUHB). Broken into parts: STUHB · ern.
Is stubborn 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 /ˈstʌbən/ (STUHB-un).