uhn-SPOH-kuhn
/ənˈspoʊkən/
unspoken is pronounced uhn-SPOH-kuhn (/ənˈspoʊkən/). Unspoken describes something that has not been spoken aloud, either because it is implied, reserved, or deliberately withheld. It often refers to thoughts, rules, or agreements that exist without explicit vocalisation, or to things not openly stated in conversation. The term conveys silence embedded in communication, suggesting meaning beyond words.
Unspoken describes something that has not been spoken aloud, either because it is implied, reserved, or deliberately withheld. It often refers to thoughts, rules, or agreements that exist without explicit vocalisation, or to things not openly stated in conversation. The term conveys silence embedded in communication, suggesting meaning beyond words.
"- There was an unspoken rule that you never interrupted the speaker."
"- Her body language conveyed an unspoken message of doubt."
"- He carried an unspoken fear about failing the exam."
Say un- with /ʌn/ as in
Common mistakes include misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable instead of second (un-SPO-ken), and mispronouncing the middle vowel as a lax /ə/ instead of /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ in the UK/AU variants. Focus on the /spoʊ/ or /spəʊ/ sequence, keeping the /k/ clearly released.
In US, /ʌnˈspoʊ.kən/ with rhoticity; the second syllable carries the long /oʊ/. In UK, /ʌnˈspəʊ.kən/ uses a more diphthongal /əʊ/ and a slightly reduced first syllable. Australian often aligns with UK for the second syllable vowel /əʊ/ and tends to a clear /kən/ at the end, sometimes with a clipped /ən/ in rapid speech.
The challenge lies in the /ˈspoʊ/ or /ˈspəʊ/ diphthong in the stressed second syllable and the rapid consonant cluster /sp-/ after the initial /ʌn/. You also need to keep the un- prefix short and unstressed, while maintaining clear release on /k/ before the final /ən/. Practise the transition from /n/ to /s/ to /p/ smoothly.
Remember the stress pattern: un-SPO-ken. The main vowel quality hinges on the second syllable: US/UK/AU speakers maintain a long /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ depending on locale. Keep the /sp/ sequence tightly connected and avoid inserting extra vowel sounds between /s/ and /p/.
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Unspoken derives from the prefix un- meaning ‘not’ attached to spoken, the past participle of speak. The word’s core morphemes are the Old English word sprecian/sprecean (to speak) and sprec, with spoken emerging in Middle English as the past participle of speak. The un- prefix signals negation, creating a term that literally means ‘not spoken.’ Historically, unspoken occurred in English as early as the 15th century, often in legal, moral, or social contexts to describe rules, beliefs, or thoughts that are understood rather than articulated. Over time, unspoken acquired nuanced usage in literature and everyday speech to cover tacit understandings, implied norms, and nonverbal communication that accompanies or replaces explicit speech. In modern usage, it frequently appears in discussions of etiquette, social dynamics, and interpersonal communication, where silence or implication carries weight equal to spoken words. The evolution reflects shifts in how language captures unvoiced meaning, pairing the concrete verb speak with the abstract concept of something not voiced but understood.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "unspoken" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "unspoken" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "unspoken"
-ken sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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