Learn How to Pronounce broken

Not sure how to say a word? Try the Promova pronunciation tool for free and learn how to pronounce anything in English correctly. Discover over 100,000 words and easily learn English pronunciation online!

Find your word:

Find how to pronounce a word and practice it in our free word pronouncer for English learners!

How to pronounce:

Listen to the pronunciation:

broken

Phonetic Transcription:

ˈbrəʊkən

Examples:

It's an assemblage of broken baubles.

The incipient strike was broken.

The sword is broken at the top.

Learn more about:
broken

Related Words:

break

damage

How to perfect your pronunciation of: broken

Learn Individual Sounds

Break broken down into individual sounds such as ˈbrəʊkən. Practice these parts before you learn to say the whole word.

Copy Others

Use the tools above to find out how different people say broken in their accents, then try to repeat after them.

Pick an Accent

Avoid mixing word pronunciations. If you’re learning American English, stick to it and try not to confuse yourself with British pronunciation.

Record Yourself

Say broken in the pronunciation tool as many times as it takes before you get it right. Record yourself saying different sentences with broken.

Get a Native Tutor

Improve your pronunciation with native speakers! Practice with American, British, and Australian teachers on Promova.

Common mistakes of broken pronunciation

Stress placement: Many learners incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "bro-ˈken". The correct pronunciation is "ˈbroʊ.kən" (US) and "ˈbrəʊ.kən" (UK), emphasizing the first syllable. Tip: Practice saying "BRO-ken" to reinforce the correct stress.
Vowel confusion: Some may mispronounce the first vowel, saying "brōken" with a long "o". The correct pronunciation has a short "o" sound, as in "broʊ" (US) or "brəʊ" (UK). Tip: Listen to native speakers to catch the subtle vowel sound.
Missing the schwa: Learners sometimes omit the schwa sound in the second syllable, saying "bro-ken" instead of "bro-kən". The correct pronunciation includes a schwa, making it "ˈbroʊ.kən" (US) or "ˈbrəʊ.kən" (UK). Tip: Focus on the relaxed "kən" sound to improve clarity.
Overemphasis on the "k": Some people may pronounce "broken" with an exaggerated "k" sound, leading to "bro-keen". The correct pronunciation is smoother, with a less stressed "k" sound. Tip: Practice saying "BRO-kən" to achieve a natural flow.
Incorrect syllable division: A common mistake is treating "broken" as two distinct syllables, "bro" and "ken". The word should be pronounced as a single unit, "ˈbroʊ.kən" (US) or "ˈbrəʊ.kən" (UK). Tip: Break it down into "BRO-ken" to remember the correct syllable structure.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "broken" in American English?

In American English, "broken" is pronounced as /ˈbroʊ.kən/. The primary stress is on the first syllable, which sounds like "bro," and the second syllable is a schwa, pronounced quickly as "kən."

What is the British pronunciation of "broken"?

In British English, "broken" is pronounced as /ˈbrəʊ.kən/. The first syllable has a diphthong sound "brəʊ," which is similar to "bro" but with a more rounded vowel sound.

How many syllables are in the word "broken"?

The word "broken" has two syllables. It can be broken down into "bro" and "ken," with the stress on the first syllable.

Are there any common mistakes when pronouncing "broken"?

A common mistake is misplacing the stress, saying "bro-ken" instead of "broken." It's important to keep the primary stress on the first syllable to sound natural.