How to Pronounce Shorten

To pronounce "shorten", say SHORT-en — 2 syllables, IPA /ˈʃɔːtən/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

shorten

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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Syllables

Letters

/ˈʃɔːtən/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “shorten”

"shorten" has 2 syllables: short-en. It rhymes with quartan and gorton, if that helps it stick.

What does shorten mean?

verb

To make shorter; to abbreviate.
To become shorter.

Antonyms

extend lengthen

Hear “shorten” 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 shorten

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

quartan gorton cortin chorten horten borten

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "shorten"?▾

"Shorten" has 2 syllables: short · en.

What is the IPA transcription of "shorten"?▾

The IPA transcription of "shorten" is /ˈʃɔːtən/.

What does "shorten" mean?▾

Shorten: To make shorter; to abbreviate.

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