How to pronounce decadent
Say it like DEK-uh-dunt. Decadent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DEK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce decadent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DEK
- uh
- dunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Decadent pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- duntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of decadent
American and British speakers say decadent in essentially the same way: /ˈdɛkədənt/ in the US and /ˈdɛkədənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: DEK-uh-dunt.
What does decadent mean?
- Characterized by moral or cultural decline.
- Luxuriously self-indulgent.
- A person affected by moral decay.
Where does decadent come from?
From French décadent, a back-formation from décadence (see -ent), from Medieval Latin dēcadentia, from Late Latin dēcadēns, present participle of dēcadō, dēcidō (“sink, fall; perish”), from Latin dē- + cadō (“fall”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying decadent
How do you pronounce decadent?
Say DEK-uh-dunt. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɛkədənt/. In British English it is /ˈdɛkədənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in decadent?
Decadent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DEK). Broken into parts: DEK · uh · dunt.
Do Americans and Brits say decadent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɛkədənt/ and the British form is /ˈdɛkədənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.