How to pronounce sworn
Say it like SWORN. Sworn 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 sworn. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SWORN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sworn pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SWORNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of sworn
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: SWAWN.
What does sworn mean?
- bound by or as if by an oath“according to an early tradition became his sworn brother”“sworn enemies”
- bound by or stated on oath“now my sworn friend and then mine enemy”
Where does sworn come from?
From Middle English sworen, isworen, from Old English sworen, ġesworen, from Proto-West Germanic *swaran, *giswaran, from Proto-Germanic *swaranaz, past participle of Proto-Germanic *swarjaną (“to swear”), equivalent to swear + -en.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with sworn
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sworn.
Questions about saying sworn
How do you pronounce sworn?
Say SWORN. The American pronunciation is /swɔrn/. In British English it is /swɔːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sworn?
Sworn is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SWORN.
Is sworn 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 /swɔːn/ (SWAWN).