how to pronounce pound

/ˈpaʊnd/

audio example by a male speaker

audio example by a female speaker

the above transcription of pound is a detailed (narrow) transcription according to the rules of the International Phonetic Association; you can find a description of each symbol by clicking the phoneme buttons in the secction below.

pound is pronounced in one syllable

press buttons with phonetic symbols to learn how to precisely pronounce each sound of pound

1. example pitch curve for pronunciation of pound

test your pronunciation of pound

press the "test" button to check how closely you can replicate the pitch of a native speaker in your pronunciation of pound

video examples of pound pronunciation

An example use of pound in a speech by a native speaker of american english:

“… could throw a 200 pound police officer …”

meanings of pound

noun:

Abbreviation for pound-force, a unit of force/weight. Using this abbreviation to describe pound-force is inaccurate and unscientific.
A hard blow.
The people who work for the pound.
The unit of currency used in the United Kingdom and its dependencies. It is divided into 100 pence.
A unit of mass equal to 16 avoirdupois ounces (= 453.592 37 g). Today this value is the most common meaning of "pound" as a unit of weight.
A kind of fishing net, having a large enclosure with a narrow entrance into which fish are directed by wings spreading outward.
Any of various units of currency used in Egypt and Lebanon, and formerly in the Republic of Ireland, Cyprus and Israel.
A section of a canal between two adjacent locks.
A division inside a fishing stage where cod is cured in salt brine.
The symbol.
Any of various units of currency formerly used in the United States.
A place for the detention of automobiles that have been illegally parked, abandoned, etc. Short form of impound.
A unit of mass equal to 12 troy ounces (≈ 373.242 g). Today, this is a common unit of weight when measuring precious metals, and is little used elsewhere.
A place for the detention of stray or wandering animals.

verb:

To wager a pound on.
To eat or drink very quickly.
To pitch consistently to a certain location.
To penetrate sexually, with vigour.
To make a jarring noise, as when running.
To beat strongly or throb.
To confine in, or as in, a pound; to impound.
To advance heavily with measured steps.
To strike hard, usually repeatedly.
To crush to pieces; to pulverize.

name:

A surname.

pound frequency in english - B2 level of CEFR

the word pound occurs in english on average 21.7 times per one million words; this frequency warrants it to be in the study list for B2 level of language mastery according to CEFR, the Common European Framework of Reference.