How to pronounce complacent
Say it like kum-PLAY-sunt. Complacent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PLAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce complacent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kum
- PLAY
- sunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Complacent pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PLAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- suntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of complacent
American and British speakers say complacent in essentially the same way: /kəmˈpleɪsənt/ in the US and /kəmˈpleɪsənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: kum-PLAY-sunt.
What does complacent mean?
- Uncritically satisfied with oneself or one's achievements; smug.“He grew complacent as the years rolled on and the money rolled in.”
- Unduly unworried or apathetic with regard to a need or problem.“He tried to paint his audience as complacent, yelling that if they weren't mad as hell then they weren't paying enough attention.”
Where does complacent come from?
Borrowed from Latin complacēns (“very pleasing”), present participle of complacēre (“to please at the same time, be very pleasing”), from com- (“together”) + placēre (“to please”); see please and compare complaisant.
Words that rhyme with complacent
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of complacent.
Questions about saying complacent
How do you pronounce complacent?
Say kum-PLAY-sunt. The American pronunciation is /kəmˈpleɪsənt/. In British English it is /kəmˈpleɪsənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in complacent?
Complacent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PLAY). Broken into parts: kum · PLAY · sunt.
Do Americans and Brits say complacent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəmˈpleɪsənt/ and the British form is /kəmˈpleɪsənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.