STOH-luhn
/ˈstoʊlən/
stolen is pronounced STOH-luhn (/ˈstoʊlən/). Stolen is the past participle of steal, meaning something that has been taken without permission. In pronunciation, the word is typically unstressed in connected speech and often appears in phrases like “a stolen base” or “the stolen car.” It functions as an adjective or part of a passive or perfect construction, depending on context. Overall, the word emphasizes completion of the act of theft rather than the act itself.
Stolen is the past participle of steal, meaning something that has been taken without permission. In pronunciation, the word is typically unstressed in connected speech and often appears in phrases like “a stolen base” or “the stolen car.” It functions as an adjective or part of a passive or perfect construction, depending on context. Overall, the word emphasizes completion of the act of theft rather than the act itself.
- You may flatten the first syllable vowel, pronouncing it as a short /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ instead of a proper /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK/AU). Keep the diphthong distinct as you prepare for the second syllable. - Don’t over-articulate the final -en; in natural speech, the ending is light, often a syllabic /l̩/ or a quick /ən/. - Some learners place too much emphasis on the second syllable’s consonant, making it sound like /lɛn/; aim for /lə n/ or /lən/ with soft /ə/ and nasal /n/.
"The car was stolen last night."
"A stolen base can be costly in baseball."
"Someone reported a stolen laptop to the security desk."
Pronunciation: /ˈstoʊ.lən/ (US) or /ˈstəʊ.lən/ (UK/AU). Start with an explicit /s/ hiss, then the long O glide from /oʊ/ in stressed syllable 1. The second syllable uses a weak schwa or a syllabic nasal; your tongue relaxes, and the lips stay neutral or slightly rounded for /ə/ before /n/. In fast speech, you may hear /ˈstoʊ.lən/ with light linking.
Common mistakes include misplacing the primary stress, mispronouncing the /oʊ/ as short /o/ or /ɔ/ (leading to /ˈstɒlən/ or /ˈstoːlən/), and over-enunciating the final /lən/ as /lən/ with a hard /l/ or fully pronouncing the 'n' in the second syllable. Correct by maintaining a strong initial /ˈst/ cluster, selecting the correct /oʊ/ (US) or /əʊ/ (UK/AU) vowel, and using a light, unstressed /lə n/ with a soft, quick /ən/.
US: /ˈstoʊ.lən/ with rhotic r coloring minimal; UK/AU: /ˈstəʊ.lən/ with a more centralized or clipped first vowel and non-rhotic tendency; AU often leans toward /ˈstəʊ.lən/ but can preserve a slightly longer /əʊ/ in careful speech. The /l/ remains clear in all accents, while the second syllable uses a reduced schwa before /n/ in casual speech.
The difficulty lies in the two-complex-syllable structure with a clear initial /st/ cluster, a long diphthong /oʊ/ or /əʊ/, and a weak second syllable that reduces to /lən/ or /l̩/ in fluent speech. Learners often misplace the stress, flatten the diphthong, or overly articulate the final nasal. Focus on the taut, aspirated /st/ onset, the glide in /oʊ/ or /əʊ/, and a quick, relaxed second syllable.
A unique feature is the weakly stressed final syllable that often becomes a syllabic nasal or reduced schwa—linking with the preceding consonant in fluent speech. The first syllable carries the primary stress and must preserve a crisp /st/ onset and clear /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ vowel. In connected speech, you’ll notice the transition from a strong initial cluster to a quiet, fast second syllable.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "stolen"!
- US: maintain the /stoʊ/ diphthong with a rounded, open-fronted onset and then a relaxed /lən/. - UK: shift to /stəʊ/ with less rhotics, keep /lən/ light; avoid overpronouncing the second vowel. - AU: similar to UK but with a slightly younger-tone /əʊ/; keep the final /n/ crisp but not harsh. - IPA cues: US /ˈstoʊ.lən/, UK/AU /ˈstəʊ.lən/; focus on lip rounding for /oʊ/ and a relaxed jaw for /əʊ/.
Stolen derives from Old English stealan, meaning to take away secretly. The form stole is the simple past, while stolen is the past participle used with auxiliary verbs. The noun sense of theft traces through Proto-Germanic steallanan and Proto-Indo-European roots related to taking or stealing. The sense evolution centers on the action of taking something that belongs to another, with the participle form marking completion and relevance to ongoing or perfect constructions (have stolen, was stolen). First attested in Middle English after the Norman conquest, the term gained momentum as legal and literary language developed, distinguishing between acts of theft and possession, and later expanding into idiomatic expressions such as “stolen identity” and “stolen moment.”
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "stolen" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "stolen" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "stolen" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "stolen"
-ken sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
