How to pronounce uneven
Say it like uh-NEE-vun. Uneven has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce uneven. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- NEE
- vun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Uneven pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- vunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of uneven
American and British speakers say uneven in essentially the same way: /əˈnivən/ in the US and /ʌˈniːvən/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-NEE-vun.
What does uneven mean?
- not even or uniform as e.g. in shape or texture“an uneven color”“uneven ground”
- (of a contest or contestants) not fairly matched as opponents“vaudeville...waged an uneven battle against the church”
- not divisible by two
Where does uneven come from?
From Middle English uneven, from Old English unefen (“unequal, unlike, dissimilar, diverse, irregular”), equivalent to un- + even.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying uneven
How do you pronounce uneven?
Say uh-NEE-vun. The American pronunciation is /əˈnivən/. In British English it is /ʌˈniːvən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in uneven?
Uneven has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NEE). Broken into parts: uh · NEE · vun.
Do Americans and Brits say uneven the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈnivən/ and the British form is /ʌˈniːvən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.