How to pronounce descendant
Say it like dih-SEN-dunt. Descendant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce descendant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SEN
- dunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Descendant 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.
- SENSay 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 descendant
American and British speakers say descendant in essentially the same way: /dɪˈsɛndənt/ in the US and /dɪˈsɛndənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-SEN-dunt.
What does descendant mean?
- One of the progeny of a specified person, at any distance of time or through any number of generations.“The patriarch survived many descendants: five children, a dozen grandchildren, even a great grandchild.”
- A thing that derives directly from a given precursor or source.“This famous medieval manuscript has many descendants.”
- A later evolutionary type.“Dogs evolved as descendants of early wolves.”
- Descending; going down.“The elevator resumed its descendant trajectory.”
- Descending from a biological ancestor.“Power in the kingdom is transferred in a descendant manner.”
- Proceeding from a figurative ancestor or source.
Where does descendant come from?
From Middle English dessendaunte, borrowed from Middle French, from Latin dēscendēns, present participle of descendere, from dē + scandere (“to climb, ascend”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with descendant
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of descendant.
- independent
- dependent
- defendant
- superintendent
- attendant
- pendant
- transcendent
- dependant
- ascendant
- resplendent
Questions about saying descendant
How do you pronounce descendant?
Say dih-SEN-dunt. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈsɛndənt/. In British English it is /dɪˈsɛndənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in descendant?
Descendant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEN). Broken into parts: dih · SEN · dunt.
Do Americans and Brits say descendant the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈsɛndənt/ and the British form is /dɪˈsɛndənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.