How to pronounce defending
Say it like dih-FEN-ding. Defending 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 defending. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- FEN
- ding
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Defending 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.
- dingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of defending
American and British speakers say defending in essentially the same way: /dɪˈfɛndɪŋ/ in the US and /dɪˈfɛndɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-FEN-ding.
What does defending mean?
- attempting to or designed to prevent an opponent from winning or scoring
Words that rhyme with defending
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of defending.
Questions about saying defending
How do you pronounce defending?
Say dih-FEN-ding. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈfɛndɪŋ/. In British English it is /dɪˈfɛndɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in defending?
Defending has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FEN). Broken into parts: dih · FEN · ding.
Do Americans and Brits say defending the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈfɛndɪŋ/ and the British form is /dɪˈfɛndɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.