How to pronounce contrarian
Say it like kun-TRER-ee-un. Contrarian has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRER).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce contrarian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kun
- TRER
- ee
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Contrarian 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.
- TRERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of contrarian
American and British speakers say contrarian in essentially the same way: /kənˈtrɛriən/ in the US and /kənˈtrɛəriən/ in the UK.
British respelling: kun-TRAIR-ee-un.
What does contrarian mean?
- A person who likes or tends to express a contradicting viewpoint, especially from one held by a majority of people, usually because of nonconformity or spite.
- A financial investor who tends to have an opinion of market trends at variance with most others.
- Liking or tending to express a contradicting viewpoint, especially from one held by a majority of people.
- Having an opinion of market trends at variance with most others.
Where does contrarian come from?
From contrary + -an (suffix forming agent nouns; and meaning of or pertaining to forming adjectives), modeled after words like libertarian.
Words that rhyme with contrarian
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of contrarian.
- humanitarian
- vegetarian
- authoritarian
- librarian
- libertarian
- ovarian
- barbarian
- sectarian
- totalitarian
- agrarian
Questions about saying contrarian
How do you pronounce contrarian?
Say kun-TRER-ee-un. The American pronunciation is /kənˈtrɛriən/. In British English it is /kənˈtrɛəriən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in contrarian?
Contrarian has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TRER). Broken into parts: kun · TRER · ee · un.
Do Americans and Brits say contrarian the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kənˈtrɛriən/ and the British form is /kənˈtrɛəriən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.