How to pronounce continuous
Say it like kun-TIN-yoo-us. Continuous 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 continuous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kun
- TIN
- yoo
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Continuous 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.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of continuous
American and British speakers say continuous in essentially the same way: /kənˈtɪnjuəs/ in the US and /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: kun-TIN-yoo-us.
What does continuous mean?
- continuing in time or space without interruption“a continuous rearrangement of electrons in the solar atoms results in the emission of light”“a continuous bout of illness lasting six months”
- of a function or curve; extending without break or irregularity
Where does continuous come from?
From Latin continuus, from contineō (“hold together”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
- discontinuous
Questions about saying continuous
How do you pronounce continuous?
Say kun-TIN-yoo-us. The American pronunciation is /kənˈtɪnjuəs/. In British English it is /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in continuous?
Continuous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TIN). Broken into parts: kun · TIN · yoo · us.
Do Americans and Brits say continuous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kənˈtɪnjuəs/ and the British form is /kənˈtɪnjuːəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.