2 syllables: ar, raign. Stress on raign.
ur-AYN
/ɚˈeɪn/
arraign is pronounced ur-AYN (/ɚˈeɪn/). It has two syllables (ar-raign), with the stress on "raign". Arraign means to bring someone before a court to answer to criminal charges. It typically involves informing the defendant of the charges, and determining bail or further proceedings. The term is primarily used in legal contexts and matters of criminal procedure.
Arraign means to bring someone before a court to answer to criminal charges. It typically involves informing the defendant of the charges, and determining bail or further proceedings. The term is primarily used in legal contexts and matters of criminal procedure.
"The prosecutor announced that the defendant would be arraigned in a closed courtroom."
"After the indictment, the judge scheduled the arraignment for the following week."
"During the arraignment, the suspect entered a plea of not guilty."
Arraign is pronounced uh-RRAIN, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: əˈreɪn. The vowel in the first syllable is a schwa, the second syllable contains the long 'a' as in rain. Mouth positions: start with a relaxed jaw and lips, move to a closed front vowel, then raise the tongue to start the riser leading into the 'rain' diphthong /eɪ/.
Two common errors are saying 'arra-inn' with a short 'i' sound and overarticulating the 'r' before the 'ai' diphthong. Correct it by using a soft schwa in the first syllable and a clean /eɪ/ glide into /n/. Avoid adding an extra syllable or turning it into 'ar-ayn'.
Across US/UK/AU, the core vowel and stress pattern remains əˈreɪn, but rhoticity affects post-vocalic R: US and AU typically rhotic, so you hear an /ɹ/ in 'ar' onset; UK is often non-rhotic, with a slightly less pronounced /ɹ/ or silent depending on speaker. Vowel quality is similar, but the preceding schwa can be a lighter, shorter sound in some UK varieties.
The challenge lies in producing the /əˈreɪn/ sequence smoothly: a reduced initial vowel followed by a strong, tense diphthong /eɪ/. The subtle 'r' quality in some dialects and the quick transition from schwa to /eɪ/ can trip learners. Focus on a relaxed first vowel, then an accurate /eɪ/ glide into /n/.
Yes: the main stress falls on the second syllable and there is a single, clean /eɪ/ vowel in the second syllable; begin with a light, almost imperceptible schwa before you switch to the long 'ay' sound. Keeping the /ɹ/ rhythm smooth in rhotic accents and avoiding extra vowels in the first syllable helps ensure natural accuracy.
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US vs UK vs AU: • US: rhotic pronunciation with a clearer /ɹ/ in the first syllable and a strong /eɪ/ in the second; keep the schwa brief. • UK: less rhoticity; the /ɹ/ may be diminished or absent; emphasize the diphthong /eɪ/ while keeping the first vowel light. • AU: generally rhotic like US but with slightly more clipped vowels in some regions; ensure the first syllable remains a soft schwa and the second syllable carries the /eɪ/.
The verb arraign derives from the Old French araigner, from sur- and arraigner, ultimately linked to the Latin ad (toward) plus ragere (to cause to motion or to chide, in some historical senses). The English adoption occurred in the medieval legal vernacular as normative procedure in criminal law. Over time, arraign shifted in scope from simply bringing a person before a court to more explicit procedural steps: informing the accused of the charges, advising rights, and setting the stage for further judicial actions like plea entries and bail considerations. The first known uses appear in legal records of the 14th and 15th centuries, paralleling the codification of criminal procedure in England. By the early modern period, arraign had become a standard term in common law jurisdictions, and its usage spread to other legal systems that adopted similar courtroom listening and charging procedures. In contemporary usage, arraign is specifically tied to formal criminal procedure rather than civil actions, and the pronunciation and spelling have remained relatively stable in English-speaking jurisdictions, though regional pronunciation differences influence vowel quality and stress patterns.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "arraign" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "arraign" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "arraign"
-ain sounds
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