How to pronounce sweeten
Say it like SWEE-tun. Sweeten has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SWEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sweeten. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SWEE
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sweeten pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SWEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sweeten
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: SWEE-tun.
What does sweeten mean?
- To make sweet to the taste.“to sweeten tea”
- To make (more) pleasant or to the mind or feelings.“to sweeten life”
- To make mild or kind; to soften.“to sweeten the temper”
Where does sweeten come from?
From sweet + -en. Eclipsed non-native Middle English doucen and endoucen, borrowed from Old French adoucir and endoucir (“to sweeten”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with sweeten
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sweeten.
Questions about saying sweeten
How do you pronounce sweeten?
Say SWEE-tun. The American pronunciation is /ˈswitən/. In British English it is /ˈswiːtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sweeten?
Sweeten has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SWEE). Broken into parts: SWEE · tun.
Is sweeten pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈswiːtən/ (SWEE-tun).