How to pronounce detain
Say it like dih-TAYN. Detain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAYN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce detain. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- TAYN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Detain 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.
- TAYNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of detain
American and British speakers say detain in essentially the same way: /dɪˈteɪn/ in the US and /dɪˈteɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-TAYN.
What does detain mean?
- To keep something from proceeding or coming to completion; to delay.
- To keep someone from proceeding by holding them back or making claims on their attention.
- To put someone under custody.
Where does detain come from?
From Old French detenir.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with detain
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of detain.
Questions about saying detain
How do you pronounce detain?
Say dih-TAYN. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈteɪn/. In British English it is /dɪˈteɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in detain?
Detain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAYN). Broken into parts: dih · TAYN.
Do Americans and Brits say detain the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈteɪn/ and the British form is /dɪˈteɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.