How to pronounce contagious
Say it like kun-TAY-jus. Contagious has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce contagious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kun
- TAY
- jus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Contagious pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- jusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of contagious
American and British speakers say contagious in essentially the same way: /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ in the US and /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: kun-TAY-jus.
What does contagious mean?
- easily diffused or spread as from one person to another“a contagious grin”
- (of disease) capable of being transmitted by infection
Where does contagious come from?
From Old French contagieus, from Late Latin contagiosus, from contagio.
Words that rhyme with contagious
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of contagious.
Questions about saying contagious
How do you pronounce contagious?
Say kun-TAY-jus. The American pronunciation is /kənˈteɪdʒəs/. In British English it is /kənˈteɪdʒəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in contagious?
Contagious has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAY). Broken into parts: kun · TAY · jus.
Do Americans and Brits say contagious the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kənˈteɪdʒəs/ and the British form is /kənˈteɪdʒəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.