How to pronounce descent
Say it like dih-SENT. Descent has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SENT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce descent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SENT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Descent 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.
- SENTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of descent
American and British speakers say descent in essentially the same way: /dɪˈsɛnt/ in the US and /dɪˈsɛnt/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-SENT.
What does descent mean?
- a movement downward
- properties attributable to your ancestry“he comes from good origins”
- the act of changing your location in a downward direction
Where does descent come from?
From Middle English and Anglo-Norman descente, from Anglo-Norman descendre (“to descend”); see descend.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with descent
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of descent.
Words that sound like descent
Questions about saying descent
How do you pronounce descent?
Say dih-SENT. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈsɛnt/. In British English it is /dɪˈsɛnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in descent?
Descent has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SENT). Broken into parts: dih · SENT.
Do Americans and Brits say descent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈsɛnt/ and the British form is /dɪˈsɛnt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as descent?
Descent sounds the same as dissent in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.