How to Pronounce Former

To pronounce "former", say FORM-er — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈfɔːmə/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

former

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

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Syllables

Letters

/ˈfɔːmə/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “former”

"former" has 2 syllables: form-er. It rhymes with performer and informer, if that helps it stick.

What does former mean?

adjective

Previous.
“A former president; the former East Germany”
First of aforementioned two items. Used with the, often without a noun.
“I drive two vehicles, a Chevy Camaro and an AMC Gremlin. I won the former on a game show.”

Synonyms

erstwhile sometime whilom wont-to-be

Antonyms

latter next

Hear “former” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with former

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

performer informer stormer transformer swarmer warmer underperformer antireformer dormer

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "former"?▾

"Former" has 2 syllables: form · er.

What is the IPA transcription of "former"?▾

The IPA transcription of "former" is /ˈfɔːmə/.

What does "former" mean?▾

Former: Previous.

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