How to pronounce cent
Say it like SENT. Cent is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SENT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cent pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SENTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of cent
American and British speakers say cent in essentially the same way: /sɛnt/ in the US and /sɛnt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SENT.
What does cent mean?
- a fractional monetary unit of several countries
- a coin worth one-hundredth of the value of the basic unit
Where does cent come from?
From Middle English cent, from Old French cent, from Latin centum, from Proto-Indo-European *ḱm̥tóm.
Words that rhyme with cent
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of cent.
Words that sound like cent
Questions about saying cent
How do you pronounce cent?
Say SENT. The American pronunciation is /sɛnt/. In British English it is /sɛnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cent?
Cent is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SENT.
Do Americans and Brits say cent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /sɛnt/ and the British form is /sɛnt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as cent?
Cent sounds the same as scent, sent in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.