How to pronounce depend
Say it like dih-PEND. Depend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PEND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce depend. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- PEND
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Depend 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.
- PENDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of depend
American and British speakers say depend in essentially the same way: /dɪˈpɛnd/ in the US and /dɪˈpɛnd/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-PEND.
What does depend mean?
- be contingent upon (something that is elided)“That depends”
- have faith or confidence in“you can count on me to help you any time”“Look to your friends for support”
Where does depend come from?
Inherited from Middle English dependen, from Old French dependre, from Latin dependeō, from dē- + pendeō (“to be suspended, hang”).
Words that rhyme with depend
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of depend.
Questions about saying depend
How do you pronounce depend?
Say dih-PEND. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈpɛnd/. In British English it is /dɪˈpɛnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in depend?
Depend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PEND). Broken into parts: dih · PEND.
Do Americans and Brits say depend the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈpɛnd/ and the British form is /dɪˈpɛnd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.