How to pronounce upfront
Say it like UHP-fruhnt. Upfront has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UHP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce upfront. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- UHP
- fruhnt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Upfront pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- UHPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- fruhntGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of upfront
American and British speakers say upfront in essentially the same way: /ˈʌpˌfrʌnt/ in the US and /ˈʌpˌfrʌnt/ in the UK.
British respelling: UHP-fruhnt.
What does upfront mean?
- Honest, frank and straightforward.
- Open, admitted, out.
- In a forward, leading or frontward position.
- Beforehand.“My commissioners pay half of the price upfront and the other half after they receive the finished product.”
- As an attacker.“He's a poor defender, so we always play him upfront.”
- A meeting of network executives with the press and major advertisers, signaling the start of advertising sales for a new season.
Questions about saying upfront
How do you pronounce upfront?
Say UHP-fruhnt. The American pronunciation is /ˈʌpˌfrʌnt/. In British English it is /ˈʌpˌfrʌnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in upfront?
Upfront has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (UHP). Broken into parts: UHP · fruhnt.
Do Americans and Brits say upfront the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈʌpˌfrʌnt/ and the British form is /ˈʌpˌfrʌnt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.