2 syllables: lem, on. Stress on lem.
LEM-uhn
/ˈlɛmən/
lemon is pronounced LEM-uhn (/ˈlɛmən/). It has two syllables (lem-on), with the stress on "lem". Lemon is a small citrus fruit with a bright, tart flavor and yellow rind. In language terms, it is a common noun used to name the fruit, as well as an adjective in some contexts (as in lemon-scented). The word carries a short, light stress pattern and typical English vowel-consonant sequence, making it a good test case for vowel clarity and syllable timing in connected speech.
Lemon is a small citrus fruit with a bright, tart flavor and yellow rind. In language terms, it is a common noun used to name the fruit, as well as an adjective in some contexts (as in lemon-scented). The word carries a short, light stress pattern and typical English vowel-consonant sequence, making it a good test case for vowel clarity and syllable timing in connected speech.
"I squeezed a lemon into my tea for a refreshing zing."
"The chef added lemon zest to the pasta sauce."
"She wore a lemon-colored scarf that brightened the outfit."
Pronunciation: /ˈlɛmən/. The stress is on the first syllable. Start with the alveolar lateral /l/, then the open front unrounded vowel /e/ as in bet, followed by a light schwa /ə/ in the second syllable and an final nasal /n/. In rapid speech you’ll often hear /ˈlɛmən/ with the final vowel reduced; keep the second syllable short. You can reference standard pronunciations in Cambridge/Oxford dictionaries or Forvo for native recordings.
Common issues include turning the first vowel into a long /eɪ/ or /iː/ and over-articulating the second syllable as /liːmən/ or fully pronouncing /ˈliːmən/. Another error is flipping vowel qualities so the first vowel sounds like /ɛ/ or /i/. Correction: keep the first vowel as /e/ (as in bet, not as in bed), ensure a short, unstressed /ə/ in the second syllable, and finish with a crisp /n/. Practice the sequence /l/ - /e/ - /mə/ - /n/ with quick transitions.
In US English, /ˈlɛmən/ with a clear /ɛ/ in the first syllable and a reduced /ə/ second syllable; rhoticity is not visible on this word itself. UK English keeps /ˈlɛmən/ with similar vowel but might show slightly tighter articulation in the /ə/ and more clipped final /n/. Australian English resembles UK but may feature a more centralized /ə/ and slightly less rounded /ɜː/ shape due to general Australian vowel shifts; still, the word remains /ˈlɛmən/ with stress on the first syllable. Audio examples from Pronounce or Forvo confirm consistent quality across major accents.
The difficulty lies in the short, reduced second syllable and preventing a diphthong spill in the first vowel. Learners often lengthen the /e/ or insert a vowel in the second syllable; also, trailing the final /n/ can cause nasalization effects or a clipped ending. The key is maintaining a quick, light /ə/ in the second syllable and a clean /n/ with the tongue touching the alveolar ridge. IPA cues: /ˈlɛmən/; keep /ə/ unstressed and short.
Lemon’s structure is a two-syllable word with a strong first syllable and a reduced second syllable, typical of many English two-syllable food words. The onset /l/ requires a light contact with the tongue near the alveolar ridge; the first vowel /ɛ/ is mid-front, and the final /n/ is a nasal that closes cleanly without adding extra vowel. The word has straightforward stress pattern, helpful for practicing rhythm and linking in phrases like 'lemon juice' or 'lemon zest' in continuous speech.
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The word lemon traces to medieval Latin lima, which referred to the fruit and the lemon tree; its precise origin is debated. It likely entered English via Old French limon, or possibly from Arabic laym (or laimun) through Mediterranean trade routes, with early variants appearing in the 13th–14th centuries. The term originally described any large citrus fruit and gradually narrowed to the lemon specifically as citrus cultivation spread across the Atlantic world. In Middle English usage, lemon often occurred alongside other citrus names like lime and orange, before standardizing in modern English to denote Citrus limon. The fruit’s association with sourness and acidity reinforced its semantic domain in food and scent expressions, influencing idioms and colloquial uses. In the 18th and 19th centuries, written English began consistently distinguishing lemon as a citrus fruit of small to medium size, distinct from other citrus fruits. The modern spelling lemon is stable in most varieties of English, with minor regional pronunciation shifts that reflect rhoticity and vowel quality in US, UK, and AU contexts.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "lemon" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "lemon"
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