2 syllables: Lin, coln. Stress on Lin.
LING-kuhn
/ˈlɪŋkən/
Lincoln is pronounced LING-kuhn (/ˈlɪŋkən/). It has two syllables (Lin-coln), with the stress on "Lin". Lincoln is a masculine given name and surname most famously associated with the 16th U.S. president. It can also refer to places in the United States. In pronunciation, it is typically stressed on the first syllable and pronounced with a light, clipped final syllable, blending the /lɪŋ/ with a clear /k/ onset for the second syllable when used as a name or toponym.
nounLincoln is a masculine given name and surname most famously associated with the 16th U.S. president. It can also refer to places in the United States. In pronunciation, it is typically stressed on the first syllable and pronounced with a light, clipped final syllable, blending the /lɪŋ/ with a clear /k/ onset for the second syllable when used as a name or toponym.
How to Pronounce Lincoln
"A statue of Lincoln stands in the town square."
"She studied Lincoln's speeches in her U.S. history class."
"The Lincoln Memorial draws millions of visitors each year."
Lincoln is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈlɪŋ.kən/. The primary stress is on the first syllable. Start with a light, short L, then a lax short i as in 'kit' /ɪ/. Follow with the velar nasal /ŋ/ (no separate 'ng' sound). The second syllable is a schwa-like or short a sound /kən/, with a clear /k/ onset and a relaxed, unstressed ending. In practice, say "LIN-kun" quickly and avoid overemphasizing the second syllable. Audio cues: listen for the crisp /k/ before the unstressed /ən/.
Common errors include over-articulating the second syllable as /ˈlɪŋ.kʌn/ or mispronouncing the /ŋ/ as a hard "ng" blend without the following /k/. Another error is compressing the first syllable into a shorter schwa like /ləŋ/ or misplacing the tongue for /ɪ/ causing /lɪŋ/ to sound unclear. Correction: keep /ɪ/ clear with a light tongue position, ensure the /ŋ/ is a velar nasal before the /k/, and release the /k/ cleanly into /ən/ without adding extra vowel. Practice slow, then speed up while maintaining the two distinct consonants.
In US English, Lincoln is /ˈlɪŋ.kən/ with a clear /ɪ/ and rhotic /ɹ/ none—essentially /ˈlɪŋ.kən/. UK English typically mirrors /ˈlɪŋ.kən/ but may have a slightly longer vowel duration and non-rhoticity effects on surrounding words; the /kən/ ending remains. Australian English tends toward /ˈlɪŋ.kən/ as well, with a lilting vowel and slightly rounded lip position for /ɪ/ and greater vowel nasalization post-consonant. Across all, the first syllable bears primary stress; the second syllable remains unstressed with a schwa-like quality in many contexts.
The difficulty mainly lies in the rapid sequence /lɪŋ/ followed by a hard /k/ immediately before the unstressed /ən/. The /ŋ/ needs to be produced with the tongue retracted to the velum, and the /k/ should be released cleanly before the schwa. Some speakers merge the /ŋ/ and /k/ or insert an extra vowel. Focus on crisp /k/ release and maintaining a steady /ən/ without adding extraneous vowel sound. IPA cues: /ˈlɪŋ.kən/.
Unique factor for Lincoln is the potential subtle vowel merging across speech rate—when spoken quickly in connected speech, the /ɪ/ can be perceived as a near-schwa or reduced, especially before a following consonant cluster. To counter this, practice with slow articulation then speed up, ensuring the first syllable retains a crisp /ɪ/ and that the /ŋ/ and /k/ remain distinct before the /ən/. This reduces ambiguity in rapid narration.
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Lincoln originates from Old English elements meaning ‘lake’ (lín) or ‘pool’ and ‘líncoln’ or ‘colonia’ combined with ‘tun’ meaning town or settlement. The surname, and later the given name, derive from places named Lincoln in England, notably Lincoln in Lincolnshire, whose name itself is derived from the River Witham’s Old English roots related to linn ‘pool, pool at a waterfall’ and cynn ‘kin’. The first recorded use as a personal name in English occurs in medieval documents, with the name becoming widely known in the United States through the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, whose prominence amplified the surname’s usage as a first name across English-speaking countries. The semantic shift from a geography-based surname to a common given name reflects broader naming trends in the 19th and 20th centuries, where famous figures influence adoption rates and cultural associations with the name Lincoln as emblematic of civic leadership and republican values.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Lincoln" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Lincoln"
-kin sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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