How to pronounce dependent
Say it like dih-PEN-dunt. Dependent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dependent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- PEN
- dunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dependent 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.
- PENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- duntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of dependent
American and British speakers say dependent in essentially the same way: /dɪˈpɛndənt/ in the US and /dɪˈpɛndənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-PEN-dunt.
What does dependent mean?
- relying on or requiring a person or thing for support, supply, or what is needed“dependent children”“dependent on moisture”
- contingent on something else
- (of a clause) unable to stand alone syntactically as a complete sentence“a subordinate (or dependent) clause functions as a noun or adjective or adverb within a sentence”
- a person who relies on another person for support (especially financial support)
Where does dependent come from?
From Middle English dependaunt, dependent, from Middle French dependant (present participle of dependre (“to depend”)) and Latin dēpendēns (present participle of dēpendeō (“to depend”)).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with dependent
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dependent.
Questions about saying dependent
How do you pronounce dependent?
Say dih-PEN-dunt. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈpɛndənt/. In British English it is /dɪˈpɛndənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dependent?
Dependent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PEN). Broken into parts: dih · PEN · dunt.
Do Americans and Brits say dependent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈpɛndənt/ and the British form is /dɪˈpɛndənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.