How to pronounce weaken
Say it like WEE-kun. Weaken has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce weaken. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WEE
- kun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Weaken pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- kunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of weaken
American and British speakers say weaken in essentially the same way: /ˈwikən/ in the US and /ˈwiːkən/ in the UK.
British respelling: WEE-kun.
What does weaken mean?
- To make weaker or less strong.“weaken a bond”
- To become weaker or less strong.“Over the years my enthusiasm for the job has weakened.”
Where does weaken come from?
From weak + -en.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with weaken
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of weaken.
Questions about saying weaken
How do you pronounce weaken?
Say WEE-kun. The American pronunciation is /ˈwikən/. In British English it is /ˈwiːkən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in weaken?
Weaken has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (WEE). Broken into parts: WEE · kun.
Do Americans and Brits say weaken the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈwikən/ and the British form is /ˈwiːkən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.