How to pronounce contender
Say it like kun-TEN-der. Contender has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce contender. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kun
- TEN
- der
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Contender 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.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of contender
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: kun-TEN-duh.
What does contender mean?
- the contestant you hope to defeat“he had respect for his rivals”“he wanted to know what the competition was doing”
Where does contender come from?
From contend + -er.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with contender
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of contender.
Questions about saying contender
How do you pronounce contender?
Say kun-TEN-der. The American pronunciation is /kənˈtɛndɚ/. In British English it is /kənˈtɛndə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in contender?
Contender has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: kun · TEN · der.
Is contender pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /kənˈtɛndə/ (kun-TEN-duh).