How to pronounce contact
Say it like KAHN-takt. Contact has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce contact. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAHN
- takt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Contact pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KAHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- taktGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of contact
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KON-takt.
What does contact mean?
- close interaction“they kept in daily contact”“they claimed that they had been in contact with extraterrestrial beings”
- the act of touching physically“her fingers came in contact with the light switch”
- the state or condition of touching or of being in immediate proximity“litmus paper turns red on contact with an acid”
- be in or establish communication with“Our advertisements reach millions”“He never contacted his children after he emigrated to Australia”
- be in direct physical contact with; make contact“The two buildings touch”“Their hands touched”
Where does contact come from?
From Latin contactus, from contingō (“to touch on all sides”), from tangō (“to touch”).
Questions about saying contact
How do you pronounce contact?
Say KAHN-takt. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑnˌtækt/. In British English it is /ˈkɒnˌtækt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in contact?
Contact has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAHN). Broken into parts: KAHN · takt.
Is contact pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˈkɒnˌtækt/ (KON-takt).