TOH-kuhn
/ˈtoʊkən/
token is pronounced TOH-kuhn (/ˈtoʊkən/). Token refers to a symbol, sign, or object that stands for something else, often used in computing, linguistics, or economics; it can also mean a small piece or chip used as a substitute or proof. In discourse, a token serves as a stand-in or voucher. The term carries formal to technical connotations depending on context.
Token refers to a symbol, sign, or object that stands for something else, often used in computing, linguistics, or economics; it can also mean a small piece or chip used as a substitute or proof. In discourse, a token serves as a stand-in or voucher. The term carries formal to technical connotations depending on context.
- You: Focus on the first syllable’s vowel. Common mistake is reducing /oʊ/ to /ə/ in casual speech, resulting in /tə.kən/. Fix: exaggerate the diphthong in practice drills, then ease back to natural; keep the first vowel long enough to contrast with second syllable. - You: Don’t skip the final nasal /n/. In careful speech you should release /k/ fully into /ən/; many say /kən/ with a silent n. Fix: practice /kən/ as a two-part rhythm with a subtle lift on /n/. - You: Don’t misplace the stress. Some say /koʊ.ten/ or /ˈkɒ.kən/ by analogy. Fix: rehearse with a metronome to ensure the first syllable carries primary weight; keep the second syllable light. - You: Avoid harsh /k/ release. The /k/ should be a clean, abrupt stop before the schwa; avoid a palatal release that blends with following vowel. Practice with focused mouth movement: back of tongue contact, crisp /k/ release.
"- In blockchain, a token represents a digital asset with value and rights."
"- The teacher used a token as proof of attendance."
"- Security tokens are issued to grant access to a system."
Standard pronunciation is two syllables with primary stress on the first: US /ˈtoʊ.kən/, UK /ˈtəʊ.kən/, AU /ˈtəʊ.kən/. Begin with a clear long diphthong in the first syllable: ’toʊ’ or ’təʊ’ depending on dialect, followed by a soft, unstressed ’kən’. Keep the k sound crisp, and end with a relaxed schwa or unstressed ‘n’. Practice by isolating the two vowels and ensuring equal timing between syllables.
Common errors include: 1) de-emphasizing the first syllable, producing /tə.kən/ with weak stress; 2) slipping into a quick, clipped /to.kən/ with a hard or mispronounced second syllable; 3) mispronouncing the /oʊ/ as a short /o/ or a lax /ə/. To correct: practice the strong first syllable with an extended /oʊ/ in US, keep the second syllable short and crisp, and ensure the /k/ is released cleanly before the final /ən/.”},{
US speakers typically use /ˈtoʊ.kən/ with a clear /oʊ/ and rhoticity on the ending; UK speakers often realize /ˈtəʊ.kən/, with a slightly lighter final schwa and less rhotic influence; Australian realizations usually align with /ˈtəʊ.kən/ or /ˈtoʊ.kən/, often with a closer vowel quality to /əʊ/ and a less tense final consonant. In all, the stress remains on the first syllable, but vowel quality and rhoticity vary subtly by region.”},{
The challenge centers on the diphthong in the first syllable and the quick, unstressed second syllable. For many speakers, the /oʊ/ diphthong must be precise and not reduced to /o/; the final /ən/ should stay brief and non-syllabic-consonant-heavy. In careful speech, you’ll aim for a balanced two-beat rhythm: strong /ˈtoʊ/ (or /ˈtəʊ/) and a relaxed /kən/. Practice isolating the diphthong with mouth opens and closes, then merge quickly into the final syllable.”},{
The key question for token pronunciation is whether to realize the first vowel as /toʊ/ or /təʊ/. Some speakers insert a reduced schwa under fast speech, yielding /tə.kən/; others retain a clearer vowel like /toʊ.kən/. The unique token question is about maintaining the long first vowel without turning into a simple /tə/ in rapid contexts, especially in connected speech. Emphasize the first syllable’s onset and sustain the /oʊ/ vowel before the /kən/.
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- US: Pronounce /ˈtoʊ.kən/ with a strong first syllable; the /oʊ/ is a rising diphthong; the final /ən/ is a quick, schwa-like syllable. Keep rhotics optional; the final vowel should be non-rhotic in many dialects. - UK: /ˈtəʊ.kən/ with a rounded /əʊ/ in the first syllable; less rhotic prevalence and slightly lighter final /ən/. - AU: /ˈtəʊ.kən/ often similar to UK; tends toward less overt rhoticity and a mid-to-high back vowel in /oʊ/. In all, maintain the first-syllable diphthong while letting the second syllable stay relaxed. IPA cues: US /ˈtoʊ.kən/ vs UK/AU /ˈtəʊ.kən/; ensure non-rolling r and minimal vowel reduction.
Token comes from Middle English token, from Old English tacen meaning “sign, omen, symbol.” It likely stems from Proto-Germanic *takna- (“sign, omen”) with cognates in Dutch teken, German Zeichen, and Icelandic teikna (to sign). The original sense was a sign or mark used to indicate something, apart from money or physical tokens. By the 14th–16th centuries, token acquired a broader sense of a sign or symbol that stands for something else, extending into modern domains like computing (digital tokens), linguistics (token in corpus linguistics), and economy (token as a unit of value). The semantic shift often tracks the rise of symbolic representation and standardized units, while retaining the core idea: an observable item that encodes information or access. First known written use in English traces to legal, religious, and manuscript contexts where a token was used as a sign of authority or authorization. Over time, token became a generalized term for any mark or emblem representing something else, a sense that persists in contemporary specialized vocabularies.
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Words that rhyme with "token"
-ken sounds
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