One syllable: gunn.
guhn
/ɡʌn/
gunn is pronounced guhn (/ɡʌn/). It has one syllable (gunn), with the stress on "gunn". Gunn is a monosyllabic word typically functioning as a surname or a rare given name; it can also appear in historical or fictional contexts referring to a person named Gunn. The pronunciation is short and firm, with a closed vowel and a final consonant that resembles a strong 'n' sound. In most uses, the word is not stressed and stands alone as a single-syllable name or label.
Gunn is a monosyllabic word typically functioning as a surname or a rare given name; it can also appear in historical or fictional contexts referring to a person named Gunn. The pronunciation is short and firm, with a closed vowel and a final consonant that resembles a strong 'n' sound. In most uses, the word is not stressed and stands alone as a single-syllable name or label.
"The target word in the sentence is Gunn, a surname carried by several notable figures."
"In the novel, Gunn leads the expedition with a steady, no-nonsense tone."
"The archery expert introduced himself as Gunn before the workshop began."
Pronounce it as /ɡʌn/ (US) or /ɡɜːn/ (depending on speaker); in many British accents it may sound closer to /ɡən/. Start with a hard /g/ as in 'go', then a short lax vowel like 'cup' (US /ʌ/), and finish with a clear final /n/. Stress is typically on the syllable if it’s part of a longer name, but in isolation stay monosyllabic and brisk. Audio reference: you can compare with Forvo entries for 'Gunn' and listen to surname pronunciations.
Common errors include: 1) Using a long vowel like /uː/ (as in 'goon')—keep it short: /ʌ/ or /ɜː/ depending on dialect. 2) Ending with a hissy 'n' or adding an extra consonant; keep the nasal closure tight and final. 3) Voicing misalignment where the /g/ is too soft or palatalized in rapid speech; maintain a hard /g/ onset. Practice with minimal pairs like /ɡʌn/ vs /ɡən/ to lock in the vowel quality and the final nasal.
In US, your /ɡʌn/ is a short, rugged vowel between /æ/ and /ɜː/, ending with a crisp /n/. UK accents may shift the vowel toward /ɜː/ or /ɪ/ in some regions, yielding /ɡɜːn/ or /ɡən/ depending on rhoticity and vowel spreading. Australian speakers typically maintain a concise /ɡən/ or /ɡʌn/ with subtle vowel compression; rhoticity is less pronounced, and the vowel can drift toward /ɜː/ in casual speech. Overall, the core is a hard /g/ onset and a short vowel rounded off with a nasal stop.
The difficulty often lies in achieving the precise short vowel quality and crisp nasal closure, especially in rapid speech or when adjacent to a consonant cluster. The vowel may drift toward an elongated sound in some dialects, muddying the final /n/. Also, the hard /g/ onset can be softened in connected speech, leading listeners to misperceive it as /d/ or /ᵑn/. Focusing on a clean, compact /ʌ/ or /ɜː/ and a stable alveolar nasal, and practicing with minimal pairs and shadowing helps reduce slurring.
There is no silent letter in Gunn; the word is fully pronounced with a single syllable. Stress is intrinsic to the word as a monosyallable unit; in longer names or in compound names, stress rules align with English name pronunciation, typically stressing the name syllable if part of a larger proper name. The essential pattern is a single stressed syllable with a hard /g/ onset and final /n/, no additional unstressed syllables.
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Gunn as a surname and given name traces back to Norse origins, derived from the Old Norse name Gunnr (gunn) meaning "war" or "battle." It is cognate with the modern Icelandic and Danish forms Gunn and Gunin. The term also appears in medieval Scandinavian records as a personal epithet linked to martial prowess. In English-speaking contexts, Gunn entered usage primarily as a family name carried through generations, later adopted as a given name or character name. The pronunciation has remained a concise, single-syllable formation, typically with a hard G as in go, followed by a short /ʌ/ or /ɜː/ depending on regional influence, and ending with a nasal /n/. Historically, the name appears in charters and parish records from the Norse settlement period, with the earliest recognizable spellings evolving through Middle English orthography before stabilizing in modern usage. The surname spread through Scotland and Northern England, often linked to places or clan identifiers, and gained broader awareness in contemporary times due to public figures, authors, and fictional characters bearing the name Gunn. In phonetic terms, the word solidified as /ɡʌn/ in most dialects, with minor vowel variation in stressed environments or rapid speech. First known uses include medieval legal documents and genealogical entries where the name denoted lineage, alliance, or geographic origin. Over centuries, the name retained its monosyllabic form, reflecting compact, efficient Norse-derived naming conventions in English-speaking regions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "gunn" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "gunn" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "gunn"
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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