How to pronounce defend
Say it like dih-FEND. Defend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce defend. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- FEND
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Defend pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- FENDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of defend
American and British speakers say defend in essentially the same way: /dɪˈfɛnd/ in the US and /dɪˈfɛnd/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-FEND.
What does defend mean?
- argue or speak in defense of“She supported the motion to strike”
- be on the defensive; act against an attack
- protect against a challenge or attack“Hold that position behind the trees!”“Hold the bridge against the enemy's attacks”
Where does defend come from?
From Middle English defenden, from Old French defendre, deffendre (Modern French défendre), from Latin dēfendō (“to ward off”), from Proto-Italic *fendō, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷʰen-.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
- attack
- prosecute
Words that rhyme with defend
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of defend.
Questions about saying defend
How do you pronounce defend?
Say dih-FEND. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈfɛnd/. In British English it is /dɪˈfɛnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in defend?
Defend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEND). Broken into parts: dih · FEND.
Do Americans and Brits say defend the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈfɛnd/ and the British form is /dɪˈfɛnd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.