How to Pronounce Honest

To pronounce "honest", say HON-est — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈɑnəst/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

honest

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

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Syllables

Letters

/ˈɑnəst/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/ˈɒnɪst/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “honest”

Break "honest" into 2 beats and lean on "HON" — that's the stressed one. It rhymes with dishonest and pianist, if that helps it stick.

What does honest mean?

verb

To adorn or grace; to honour; to make becoming, appropriate, or honourable.

adjective

(of a person or institution) Scrupulous with regard to telling the truth; not given to swindling, lying, or fraud; upright.
“We’re the most honest people you will ever come across.”
(of a statement) True, especially as far as is known by the person making the statement; fair; unbiased.
“an honest account of events”

adverb

Honestly; really.
“It wasn’t my fault, honest.”

Antonyms

dishonest

Hear “honest” 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 honest

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

dishonest pianist faunist wannest

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "honest"?▾

"Honest" has 2 syllables: hon · est.

What is the IPA transcription of "honest"?▾

The IPA transcription of "honest" is /ˈɑnəst/.

What does "honest" mean?▾

Honest: To adorn or grace; to honour; to make becoming, appropriate, or honourable.

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