How to pronounce coherent
Say it like koh-HIR-unt. Coherent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce coherent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- koh
- HIR
- unt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Coherent pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- HIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- untKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of coherent
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: koh-HEER-runt.
What does coherent mean?
- marked by an orderly, logical, and aesthetically consistent relation of parts“a coherent argument”
- capable of thinking and expressing yourself in a clear and consistent manner“a lucid thinker”“she was more coherent than she had been just after the accident”
- (physics) of waves having a constant phase relation
Where does coherent come from?
From Middle French coherent, from Latin cohaērēns, from co- + haereō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with coherent
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of coherent.
Questions about saying coherent
How do you pronounce coherent?
Say koh-HIR-unt. The American pronunciation is /koʊˈhɪrənt/. In British English it is /kəʊˈhɪərənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in coherent?
Coherent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (HIR). Broken into parts: koh · HIR · unt.
Is coherent pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /kəʊˈhɪərənt/ (koh-HEER-runt).