How to pronounce surrender
Say it like suh-REN-der. Surrender has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce surrender. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- suh
- REN
- der
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Surrender pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of surrender
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: suh-REN-duh.
What does surrender mean?
- acceptance of despair
- a verbal act of admitting defeat
- the delivery of a principal into lawful custody
- give up or agree to forgo to the power or possession of another“The last Taleban fighters finally surrendered”
- relinquish possession or control over“The squatters had to surrender the building after the police moved in”
Where does surrender come from?
From Middle English surrendren, from Old French surrendre, from sur- + rendre (“render”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with surrender
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of surrender.
Questions about saying surrender
How do you pronounce surrender?
Say suh-REN-der. The American pronunciation is /səˈrɛndɚ/. In British English it is /səˈrɛndə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in surrender?
Surrender has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REN). Broken into parts: suh · REN · der.
Is surrender 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 /səˈrɛndə/ (suh-REN-duh).