How to pronounce detaining
Say it like dih-TAY-ning. Detaining has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce detaining. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- TAY
- ning
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Detaining 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.
- TAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- ningKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of detaining
American and British speakers say detaining in essentially the same way: /dɪˈteɪnɪŋ/ in the US and /dɪˈteɪnɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-TAY-ning.
What does detaining mean?
- present participle and gerund of detain How to pronounce detain
- A delay, hindrance, or impediment; the act of holding back.“The heavy rain was a detaining on their progress.”
- The act by which someone is detained; detention.“The suspect’s detaining lasted several hours.”
Words that rhyme with detaining
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of detaining.
Questions about saying detaining
How do you pronounce detaining?
Say dih-TAY-ning. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈteɪnɪŋ/. In British English it is /dɪˈteɪnɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in detaining?
Detaining has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAY). Broken into parts: dih · TAY · ning.
Do Americans and Brits say detaining the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈteɪnɪŋ/ and the British form is /dɪˈteɪnɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.