How to pronounce defender
Say it like dih-FEN-der. Defender has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce defender. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- FEN
- der
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Defender 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.
- FENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of defender
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-FEN-duh.
What does defender mean?
- a person who cares for persons or property
- a fighter who holds out against attack
Where does defender come from?
From Middle English defender, deffender, defendere, defendour, defendoure, partly from Anglo-Norman defendour, from Old French defendëor; partly from Middle English defenden + -ere, equivalent to defend + -er.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with defender
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of defender.
Questions about saying defender
How do you pronounce defender?
Say dih-FEN-der. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈfɛndɚ/. In British English it is /dɪˈfɛndə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in defender?
Defender has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEN). Broken into parts: dih · FEN · der.
Is defender pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /dɪˈfɛndə/ (dih-FEN-duh).