How to pronounce contingency
Say it like kun-TIN-jun-see. Contingency has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TIN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce contingency. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kun
- TIN
- jun
- see
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Contingency 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.
- TINSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- junKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- seeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of contingency
American and British speakers say contingency in essentially the same way: /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/ in the US and /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/ in the UK.
British respelling: kun-TIN-jun-see.
What does contingency mean?
- The quality of being contingent, of happening by chance.
- A possibility; something which may or may not happen. A chance occurrence, especially in finance, unexpected expenses.
- An amount of money which a party to a contract has to pay to the other party (usually the supplier of a major project to the client) if they do not fulfill the contract according to the specification.
Where does contingency come from?
From contingence + -y (16th century).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying contingency
How do you pronounce contingency?
Say kun-TIN-jun-see. The American pronunciation is /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/. In British English it is /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in contingency?
Contingency has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TIN). Broken into parts: kun · TIN · jun · see.
Do Americans and Brits say contingency the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/ and the British form is /kənˈtɪndʒənsi/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.