How to Pronounce Span

To pronounce "span", say SPAN — one syllable, IPA /spæn/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

span

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

4

Letters

/spæn/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “span”

"span" is a single-syllable word — say it in one clean beat. It rhymes with deadpan and divan, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: spann — easy to mix up when writing.

What does span mean?

noun

  1. The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; an eighth of a fathom.
  2. (by extension) A small space or a brief portion of time.

    “He has a short attention span and gets bored within minutes.”

Hear “span” 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 span

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

deadpandivanclanmanpanfanqueancaravancatamaranharmattantranscan

Related words

bracesweepstraddleyoketwainduadtwosomedyad

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "span"?▾

"Span" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "span"?▾

The IPA transcription of "span" is /spæn/.

What does "span" mean?▾

Span: The space from the thumb to the end of the little finger when extended; nine inches; an eighth of a fathom.

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