How to pronounce against
Say it like uh-GHENST. Against has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GHENST).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce against. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- GHENST
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Against pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- GHENSTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of against
American and British speakers say against in essentially the same way: /əˈɡɛnst/ in the US and /əˈɡɛnst/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-GHENST.
Other ways to say against
Against also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- uh-GAYNST /əˈɡeɪnst/
What does against mean?
- In a contrary direction to.“It is hard work to swim against the current.”
- In physical opposition to; in collision with.“The rain pounds against the window.”
- In physical contact with, so as to abut or be supported by.“The ladder was leaning against the wall.”
Where does against come from?
Cognate with Saterland Frisian juun (“against”), West Frisian tsjin (“against”), Dutch tegen (“against”), German Low German gegen (“against”), German gegen (“against”), Icelandic gegn (“against”).
Words that rhyme with against
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of against.
Questions about saying against
How do you pronounce against?
Say uh-GHENST. The American pronunciation is /əˈɡɛnst/. In British English it is /əˈɡɛnst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in against?
Against has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GHENST). Broken into parts: uh · GHENST.
Do Americans and Brits say against the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈɡɛnst/ and the British form is /əˈɡɛnst/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.