How To Pronounce Couldn't
couldn't
In British English, couldn't is pronounced /ˈkʊd.ənt/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈkʰʷʊd.n̩t̚]. In American English, it is pronounced /ˈkʊd.ənt/.
Couldn't has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first syllable. British and American speakers say it the same way.
Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.
Syllables, Stress And Endings
Syllables And Stress
Couldn't has two syllables in British English, and the main stress is on the first syllable, shown in colour above. Its stress pattern is Oo, where O is the stressed syllable.
Words That Rhyme With Couldn't
Questions About Couldn't
How do you pronounce couldn't in British English?
In British English, couldn't is pronounced /ˈkʊd.ənt/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [ˈkʰʷʊd.n̩t̚].
How do you pronounce couldn't in American English?
In American English, couldn't is pronounced /ˈkʊd.ənt/.
How many syllables are in couldn't?
Couldn't has two syllables, /kʊd/ + /ənt/.
Where is the stress in couldn't?
The main stress is on the first syllable, /kʊd/.
Do British and American English pronounce couldn't the same way?
Yes. Both are /ˈkʊd.ənt/.
Other Words With The Stress Pattern Oo
Nearby Words
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