How to pronounce contentious
Say it like kun-TEN-shus. Contentious 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 contentious. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kun
- TEN
- shus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Contentious 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.
- shusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of contentious
American and British speakers say contentious in essentially the same way: /kənˈtɛnʃəs/ in the US and /kənˈtɛnʃəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: kun-TEN-shus.
What does contentious mean?
- Marked by heated arguments or controversy.
- Given to struggling with others out of jealousy or discord.
Where does contentious come from?
From Middle French contentieux, from Latin contentiōsus (“quarrelsome, perverse”), from contentiō (“contention”), from contendere, past participle contentus (“to contend”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with contentious
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of contentious.
Questions about saying contentious
How do you pronounce contentious?
Say kun-TEN-shus. The American pronunciation is /kənˈtɛnʃəs/. In British English it is /kənˈtɛnʃəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in contentious?
Contentious has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: kun · TEN · shus.
Do Americans and Brits say contentious the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kənˈtɛnʃəs/ and the British form is /kənˈtɛnʃəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.