How to pronounce complaint
Say it like kum-PLAYNT. Complaint has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PLAYNT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce complaint. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kum
- PLAYNT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Complaint 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.
- PLAYNTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of complaint
American and British speakers say complaint in essentially the same way: /kəmˈpleɪnt/ in the US and /kəmˈpleɪnt/ in the UK.
British respelling: kum-PLAYNT.
What does complaint mean?
- an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
- (formerly) a loud cry (or repeated cries) of pain or rage or sorrow
- an expression of grievance or resentment
Where does complaint come from?
From Middle English compleynte, from Anglo-Norman compleint, from Old French compleindre, eventually from Latin planctus (whence plaint).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with complaint
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of complaint.
Questions about saying complaint
How do you pronounce complaint?
Say kum-PLAYNT. The American pronunciation is /kəmˈpleɪnt/. In British English it is /kəmˈpleɪnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in complaint?
Complaint has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PLAYNT). Broken into parts: kum · PLAYNT.
Do Americans and Brits say complaint the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəmˈpleɪnt/ and the British form is /kəmˈpleɪnt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.