2 syllables: in, born. Stress on in.
IN-bawrn
/ˈɪˌnbɔɹn/
inborn is pronounced IN-bawrn (/ˈɪˌnbɔɹn/). It has two syllables (in-born), with the stress on "in". Inborn is an adjective meaning present from birth; inherent rather than acquired. It describes traits, abilities, or tendencies that originate in one's biology or early development, rather than being learned or developed later. The term often emphasizes natural, innate characteristics or qualities.
Inborn is an adjective meaning present from birth; inherent rather than acquired. It describes traits, abilities, or tendencies that originate in one's biology or early development, rather than being learned or developed later. The term often emphasizes natural, innate characteristics or qualities.
"Her inborn musical talent amazed the teachers."
"Some people have an inborn resistance to cold weather."
"The dog showed an inborn instinct to herd the flock."
Say IN-born with primary stress on the first syllable. The first syllable uses the short 'i' as in 'kit' and the second syllable 'born' rhymes with 'corn' but with a softer vowel in many dialects. IPA US/UK/AU: US: /ˈɪnˌbɔrn/; UK/AU: /ˈɪnˌbɔːn/. The sequence is two syllables, with a light hunch of the 'r' depending on rhoticity. Think: IN-born, not in-BORN.
Common mistakes: 1) Overly strong 'r' in 'born' for non-rhotic speakers; keep it short, not a full American 'r'—in many UK/AU accents, the 'r' is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel. 2) Misplacing stress by stressing the second syllable; ensure primary stress remains on the first. 3) Vowel quality in 'in' can drift toward a lax or schwa in rapid speech; aim for a crisp short 'i' as in 'pin' rather than a reduced vowel. Correct by isolating the two syllables and practicing with minimal pairs.
In US, the first syllable carries primary stress with a short 'i' (as in 'kit'), the second syllable uses a rounded, mid back vowel in 'born' with a pronounced rhotic 'r' preceding the consonant cluster. In UK and AU, the 'born' portion often has a longer, back rounded vowel /ɔː/ and a non-rhotic 'r' in many accents; the rhythm remains two syllables with primary stress on the first. The overall sound is two syllables, with slight vowel length differences: US /ˈɪnˌbɔrn/, UK/AU /ˈɪnˌbɔːn/.
The challenge lies in the consonant cluster transition from /n/ to /b/ and the back rounded vowel in /bɔːn/ which can be influenced by rhoticity and vowel length across dialects. Mastery requires smooth linking and ensuring the 'n' doesn't bleed into a flap or glide. Also, the mild vowel reduction in rapid speech can blur the short vowel in /ɪn/; focus on crisp, short /ɪ/ before a strong /b/ onset. With practice, you’ll maintain clean two-syllable segmentation.
Yes—emphasis and vowel quality of /ɔː/ vs /ɔ/ in 'born' can trip listeners; ensure you’re not turning it into /bɔrn/ with an overly short vowel in non-rhotic speech. Also, monitor the 'o' sound as it shifts subtly with surrounding vowels; keep it a back, rounded vowel in stressed position. Your focus should be the clean two-syllable structure IN-born and consistent lip rounding across both syllables.
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Inborn traces to Middle English in- (a prefix meaning 'in' or 'within') + born (past participle of bear, to bring forth). The compound appeared in the sense of ‘carried in one’s birth’ and evolved to describe traits existing from birth. The root word born comes from Old English geborene, which itself derives from Germanic roots related to bearing or bringing forth. Over centuries, inborn shifted from a literal reference to physical birth to a broader figurative sense of intrinsic nature or congenital characteristics. By the 17th century, inborn was common in moral, intellectual, and physical contexts, often paired with innate or inherent for emphasis. Today, inborn remains a stable, high-frequency term in both scholarly and everyday language to denote natural endowment rather than learned skill.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "inborn" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "inborn" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "inborn"
-orn sounds
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