How to pronounce turn
Say it like TURN. Turn 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 turn. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TURN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Turn pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TURNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of turn
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: TURN.
What does turn mean?
- change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense“Turn towards me”“The mugger turned and fled before I could see his face”
- undergo a transformation or a change of position or action“We turned from Socialism to Capitalism”“The people turned against the President when he stole the election”
- undergo a change or development“The water turned into ice”“Her former friend became her worst enemy”
- a circular segment of a curve“a bend in the road”“a crook in the path”
- the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course“he took a turn to the right”
- (game) the activity of doing something in an agreed succession“it is my turn”“it is still my play”
Where does turn come from?
From Middle English turnen, from Old English turnian, tyrnan (“to turn, rotate, revolve”), from Proto-West Germanic *turnēn (“to turn, lathe”) (also the source of German turnen and its derivatives) and Old French torner (“to turn”), both fr
Words that rhyme with turn
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of turn.
Words that sound like turn
Questions about saying turn
How do you pronounce turn?
Say TURN. The American pronunciation is /tɝn/. In British English it is /tɜːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in turn?
Turn is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TURN.
Is turn 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 /tɜːn/ (TURN).
What words sound the same as turn?
Turn sounds the same as tern in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.