How to pronounce continual
Say it like kun-TIN-yoo-ul. Continual 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 continual. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kun
- TIN
- yoo
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Continual 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.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of continual
American and British speakers say continual in essentially the same way: /kənˈtɪnjuəl/ in the US and /kənˈtɪnjuːəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: kun-TIN-yoo-ul.
What does continual mean?
- Recurring in steady, rapid succession.“the continual noise of dogs' barking”
- Seemingly continuous; appearing to have no end or interruption.
- Forming a continuous series.
Where does continual come from?
From Middle English continuel, from Old French continuel, formed from Latin continuus (“continuous”) with the suffix -el, equivalent to continue + -al.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying continual
How do you pronounce continual?
Say kun-TIN-yoo-ul. The American pronunciation is /kənˈtɪnjuəl/. In British English it is /kənˈtɪnjuːəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in continual?
Continual has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TIN). Broken into parts: kun · TIN · yoo · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say continual the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kənˈtɪnjuəl/ and the British form is /kənˈtɪnjuːəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.