How to pronounce yen
Say it like YEN. Yen 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 yen. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YEN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Yen pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of yen
American and British speakers say yen in essentially the same way: /jɛn/ in the US and /jɛn/ in the UK.
British respelling: YEN.
What does yen mean?
- a yearning for something or to do something
- the basic unit of money in Japan; equal to 100 sen
- have a desire for something or someone who is not present“She ached for a cigarette”“I am pining for my lover”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with yen
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of yen.
Questions about saying yen
How do you pronounce yen?
Say YEN. The American pronunciation is /jɛn/. In British English it is /jɛn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in yen?
Yen is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: YEN.
Do Americans and Brits say yen the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /jɛn/ and the British form is /jɛn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.