How to pronounce worn
Say it like WORN. Worn is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce worn. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- WORN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Worn pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- WORNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of worn
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: WAWN.
What does worn mean?
- affected by wear; damaged by long use“worn threads on the screw”“a worn suit”
- showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering“looking careworn as she bent over her mending”“her face was drawn and haggard from sleeplessness”
Where does worn come from?
By analogy to past participles like torn from tear and sworn from swear.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with worn
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of worn.
Words that sound like worn
Questions about saying worn
How do you pronounce worn?
Say WORN. The American pronunciation is /wɔrn/. In British English it is /wɔːn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in worn?
Worn is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: WORN.
Is worn pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /wɔːn/ (WAWN).
What words sound the same as worn?
Worn sounds the same as warn in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.