How to pronounce unlock
Say it like un-LOK. Unlock has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unlock. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- un
- LOK
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unlock 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.
- LOKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of unlock
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: un-LOK.
What does unlock mean?
- open the lock of“unlock the door”
- set free or release
- become unlocked“The door unlocked from the inside”
Where does unlock come from?
From Middle English unloken, unlouken, onlouken, from Old English onlūcan (“to unlock”), equivalent to un- + lock.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with unlock
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of unlock.
Questions about saying unlock
How do you pronounce unlock?
Say un-LOK. The American pronunciation is /ənˈlɑk/. In British English it is /ʌnˈlɒk/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unlock?
Unlock has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LOK). Broken into parts: un · LOK.
Is unlock pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ʌnˈlɒk/ (un-LOK).