How to pronounce upon
Say it like uh-PON. Upon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PON).
- uh
- PON
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Upon 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.
- PONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of upon
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: uh-PON.
What does upon mean?
- alternative to on in most, though not all, prepositional uses.
Where does upon come from?
From Middle English upon, uppon, uppen, from Old English upon, uppon, uppan (“on, upon, up to, against, after, in addition to”), equivalent to up (“adverb”) + on (“preposition”).
Words that rhyme with upon
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of upon.
Questions about saying upon
How do you pronounce upon?
Say uh-PON. The American pronunciation is /əˈpɑn/. In British English it is /əˈpɒn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in upon?
Upon has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PON). Broken into parts: uh · PON.
Is upon 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 /əˈpɒn/ (uh-PON).