How to pronounce threaten
Say it like THRET-un. Threaten has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THRET).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce threaten. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- THRET
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Threaten pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- THRETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of threaten
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: THRET-un.
What does threaten mean?
- pose a threat to; present a danger to“The pollution is endangering the crops”
- to utter intentions of injury or punishment against“He threatened me when I tried to call the police”
- to be a menacing indication of something“The clouds threaten rain”“Danger threatens”
Where does threaten come from?
From Middle English thretenen, from Old English þrēatnian (“to urge, force, compel”), equivalent to threat + -en.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying threaten
How do you pronounce threaten?
Say THRET-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈθrɛtən/. In British English it is /ˈθrɛtən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in threaten?
Threaten has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (THRET). Broken into parts: THRET · un.
Is threaten 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 /ˈθrɛtən/ (THRET-un).