How to pronounce union
Say it like YOO-nyun. Union has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce union. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YOO
- nyun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Union pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- nyunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of union
American and British speakers say union in essentially the same way: /ˈjunjən/ in the US and /ˈjuːnjən/ in the UK.
British respelling: YOO-nyun.
What does union mean?
- an organization of employees formed to bargain with the employer“you have to join the union in order to get a job”
- the United States (especially the northern states during the American Civil War)“he has visited every state in the Union”“Lee hoped to detach Maryland from the Union”
- the act of pairing a male and female for reproductive purposes“the casual couplings of adolescents”“the mating of some species occurs only in the spring”
- being of or having to do with the northern United States and those loyal to the Union during the American Civil War“Union soldiers”“Federal forces”
- of trade unions“the union movement”“union negotiations”
Where does union come from?
From Middle English unyoun, from Old French union, from Late Latin ūniō, ūniōnem (“oneness, unity”), from Latin ūnus (“one”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying union
How do you pronounce union?
Say YOO-nyun. The American pronunciation is /ˈjunjən/. In British English it is /ˈjuːnjən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in union?
Union has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YOO). Broken into parts: YOO · nyun.
Do Americans and Brits say union the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈjunjən/ and the British form is /ˈjuːnjən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.