How to pronounce centum
Say it like KEN-tum. Centum has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce centum. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KEN
- tum
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Centum pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of centum
American and British speakers say centum in essentially the same way: /ˈkɛntəm/ in the US and /ˈkɛntəm/ in the UK.
British respelling: KEN-tum.
What does centum mean?
- Referring to an Indo-European language that did not produce sibilants from a series of Proto-Indo-European palatovelar stops.
- Satakam, set of one hundred verses connected by the same metre or topic.
- Perfect score on a board examination.
Where does centum come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin centum (“hundred”), attested at least since 1890s.
Words that rhyme with centum
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of centum.
Questions about saying centum
How do you pronounce centum?
Say KEN-tum. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɛntəm/. In British English it is /ˈkɛntəm/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in centum?
Centum has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KEN). Broken into parts: KEN · tum.
Do Americans and Brits say centum the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkɛntəm/ and the British form is /ˈkɛntəm/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.