How to pronounce contest
Say it like KON-test. Contest has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KON).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce contest. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KON
- test
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Contest pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KONSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- testKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of contest
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: KON-test.
Other ways to say contest
Contest also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- kun-TEST /kənˈtɛst/
What does contest mean?
- an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants
- a struggle between rivals
- to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation“They contested the outcome of the race”
Where does contest come from?
From French contester, from Old French, from Latin contestor (“to call to witness”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying contest
How do you pronounce contest?
Say KON-test. The American pronunciation is /ˈkɑntɛst/. In British English it is /ˈkɒntɛst/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in contest?
Contest has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KON). Broken into parts: KON · test.
Is contest 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 /ˈkɒntɛst/ (KON-test).