How to pronounce centennial
Say it like sen-TEN-ee-ul. Centennial has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce centennial. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sen
- TEN
- ee
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Centennial pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- senKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- TENSay 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.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of centennial
- American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3.
British respelling: sen-TEN-eerl.
What does centennial mean?
- The hundredth anniversary of an event or happening.
- Relating to, or associated with, the commemoration of an event that happened a hundred years before.“a centennial ode”
- Happening once in a hundred years.“a centennial jubilee a centennial celebration”
- Lasting or aged a hundred years.
Where does centennial come from?
From Late Latin centennium (“period of 100 years, century”) + English -al (suffix forming adjectives and nouns).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with centennial
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of centennial.
Questions about saying centennial
How do you pronounce centennial?
Say sen-TEN-ee-ul. The American pronunciation is /sɛnˈtɛniəl/. In British English it is /sɛnˈtɛnɪəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in centennial?
Centennial has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: sen · TEN · ee · ul.
Is centennial pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3. The British form is /sɛnˈtɛnɪəl/ (sen-TEN-eerl).