How to Pronounce Tan

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

tan

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

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1

Syllable

3

Letters

/tæn/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “tan”

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

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

What does tan mean?

noun

  1. A yellowish-brown colour.
  2. A darkening of the skin resulting from exposure to sunlight or similar light sources.

    “She still has a tan from her vacation in Mexico.”

adjective

  1. Of a yellowish-brown.

    “Mine is the white car parked next to the tan pickup truck.”

  2. Having dark skin as a result of exposure to the sun.

    “You’re looking very tan this week.”

Hear “tan” 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 tan

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

deadpanspandivanclanmanpanfanqueancaravancatamaranharmattantran

Related words

bronzetopazsuntansunburnburncoloredchromaticecru

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "tan"?▾

"Tan" has one syllable.

What is the IPA transcription of "tan"?▾

The IPA transcription of "tan" is /tæn/.

What does "tan" mean?▾

Tan: A yellowish-brown colour.

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