Listen is a verb meaning to give attention with the ear in order to hear something carefully or to pay attention to someone speaking. It implies active, attentive hearing rather than passive hearing, often signaling intention to understand. In everyday use, it also appears in phrases like listen up or listen to me, directing focus or compliance. (2-4 sentences, ~60 words)
"Please listen to the instructions before you begin."
"If you listen closely, you can hear the rain on the window."
"The teacher asked the students to listen for the subtle tone change."
"I’m trying to listen to your concerns and respond thoughtfully."
Listen derives from Old English legerian? Not exactly. Actually 'listen' originates from Old English hlysnian, from Proto-Germanic *hlysnaną, related to the noun hlēoht? The modern form emerged after assimilation with German hören? The semantic shift centers on hearing with intention. In Middle English, listen meant to bend one’s ear, to listen with attention, which later broadened to “pay attention to” in speech acts. The root is tied to hearing and attention rather than merely physical sound reception. First attested forms date from the 9th–10th centuries, with early uses in religious and legal contexts where listening was essential for comprehension and judgment. Over time, listen fused with imperative forms and fixed expressions like listen up, listen to me, and listen in, remaining central to communication practices across English-speaking cultures. The word’s evolution reflects a persistent emphasis on active, purposeful hearing as a pathway to understanding and response.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Listen" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Listen" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Listen"
-tin sounds
-ten sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounced /ˈlɪs.tən/ (US/UK/AU). The first syllable bears primary stress: LISS. The second syllable reduces to schwa with a soft -n. Tip: keep the tongue high for /l/ and front for /ɪ/, then relax the jaw for /tən/ with a light tap or stop before the nasal. Audio reference: try listening to native speaker clips on Pronounce or Forvo for the /ˈlɪs.tən/ rhythm.
Common errors: (1) Slurring the /t/ into a fast /n/ producing /ˈlɪsn̩/; (2) Over-sounding the /t/ as a hard release, which sounds exaggerated in rapid speech; (3) Misplacing /ɪ/ as a lax vowel or merging /l/ with a darkened /l/ in some accents. Correction: keep a crisp /t/ with a brief closure and then release into a soft /ən/. Practice with slow tempo and then speed up once you maintain the /ɪ/ and /t/ clarity.
In US/UK/AU, the initial /l/ is clear, but rhoticity affects nearby vowels: US tends toward a darker /ɜːr/ in other words, not here; focusing on /ˈlɪs.tən/ keeps rhotics minimal. The /t/ can be flapped to [ɾ] in rapid US speech; Australians often reduce final syllable but keep /t/ as a stop. Vowel quality: /ɪ/ in US/UK tends to be lax but crisp; final /ən/ can be more schwa-like. Overall, the rhythm remains stressed-unstressed with a short, crisper first syllable across accents.
The challenge lies in balancing a clear, stressed first syllable with a swiftly reduced second syllable. The /l/ must stay light but precise, the /ɪ/ should be tense enough to avoid sounding like /ə/, and the /t/ needs correct timing before the nasal /ən/. In fast speech, many speakers reduce to /ˈlɪs.n̩/ or insert a slight tap before the nasal, changing perceived rhythm. Focusing on the vowel height and lip position helps stabilize the sequence.
Listen uniquely combines a strong initial consonant cluster with a short vowel and a weak final syllable that can easily reduce. The presence of the /t/ followed by an /ən/ requires precise timing; many learners insert extra glottal or alveolar movement which disrupts the natural flow. The word also often features in speed-focused contexts (listen up), where dropping the final syllable or misplacing the stress becomes tempting but incorrect.
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