How to pronounce centenarian
Say it like sen-uh-NER-ee-un. Centenarian has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce centenarian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sen
- uh
- NER
- ee
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Centenarian pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- senGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of centenarian
American and British speakers say centenarian in essentially the same way: /ˌsɛnəˈnɛriən/ in the US and /ˌsɛntəˈnɛəriən/ in the UK.
British respelling: sen-tuh-NAIR-ee-un.
What does centenarian mean?
- One who or that which is at least 100 years old.
- Aged 100 years or more; extremely old.
- Of or relating to centenarians or a centenary celebration.
Where does centenarian come from?
From Latin centēnārius + -an, equivalent to centenary (“100 year, 100th anniversary”) + -an (“person”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with centenarian
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of centenarian.
- humanitarian
- vegetarian
- authoritarian
- librarian
- libertarian
- ovarian
- barbarian
- sectarian
- totalitarian
- agrarian
Questions about saying centenarian
How do you pronounce centenarian?
Say sen-uh-NER-ee-un. The American pronunciation is /ˌsɛnəˈnɛriən/. In British English it is /ˌsɛntəˈnɛəriən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in centenarian?
Centenarian has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NER). Broken into parts: sen · uh · NER · ee · un.
Do Americans and Brits say centenarian the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌsɛnəˈnɛriən/ and the British form is /ˌsɛntəˈnɛəriən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.