How to pronounce unknown
Say it like un-NOHN. Unknown has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NOHN).
- un
- NOHN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unknown pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NOHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
American vs British pronunciation of unknown
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: un-NOHN.
What does unknown mean?
- not known“an unknown amount”“an unknown island”
- being or having an unknown or unnamed source“a poem by an unknown author”“corporations responsible to nameless owners”
- not known to exist“things obscurely felt surged up from unknown depths”
- an unknown and unexplored region“they came like angels out the unknown”
- anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found
- a variable whose values are solutions of an equation
Where does unknown come from?
From Middle English *unknowen, *uniknowen, uniknowe, from Old English unġecnāwen (“unknown”), equivalent to un- + known.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with unknown
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unknown.
Questions about saying unknown
How do you pronounce unknown?
Say un-NOHN. The American pronunciation is /ənˈnoʊn/. In British English it is /ʌnˈnəʊn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unknown?
Unknown has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NOHN). Broken into parts: un · NOHN.
Is unknown pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ʌnˈnəʊn/ (un-NOHN).