How to pronounce sudden
Say it like SUHD-un. Sudden has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sudden. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SUHD
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sudden pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SUHDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sudden
American and British speakers say sudden in essentially the same way: /ˈsʌdən/ in the US and /ˈsʌdən/ in the UK.
British respelling: SUHD-un.
What does sudden mean?
- happening without warning or in a short space of time“a sudden storm”“a sudden decision”
Where does sudden come from?
From Middle English sodeyn, sodain, from Anglo-Norman sodein, from Old French sodain, subdain (“immediate, sudden”), from Vulgar Latin *subitānus (“sudden”), from Latin subitāneus (“sudden”), from subitus (“sudden", literally, "that which h
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying sudden
How do you pronounce sudden?
Say SUHD-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈsʌdən/. In British English it is /ˈsʌdən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sudden?
Sudden has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SUHD). Broken into parts: SUHD · un.
Do Americans and Brits say sudden the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsʌdən/ and the British form is /ˈsʌdən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.