How to Pronounce Govern

To pronounce "govern", say GOV-ern — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈɡʌvən/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

govern

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Accent

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Speed

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2

Syllables

6

Letters

/ˈɡʌvən/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “govern”

"govern" has 2 syllables: gov-ern. It rhymes with lovern and mcgovern, if that helps it stick.

What does govern mean?

noun

  1. The act of governing

verb

  1. To make and administer the public policy and affairs of; to exercise sovereign authority in.

    “The old king governed the land wisely.”

  2. To control the actions or behavior of; to keep under control; to restrain.

    “Govern yourselves like civilized people.”

Hear “govern” 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 govern

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

lovernmcgovernself-govern

Related words

regulateruleregularizeorderdictatedominateaddresssupervise

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "govern"?▾

"Govern" has 2 syllables: gov · ern.

What is the IPA transcription of "govern"?▾

The IPA transcription of "govern" is /ˈɡʌvən/.

What does "govern" mean?▾

Govern: The act of governing

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