How to pronounce detect
Say it like dih-TEKT. Detect has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEKT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce detect. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- TEKT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Detect 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.
- TEKTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of detect
American and British speakers say detect in essentially the same way: /dɪˈtɛkt/ in the US and /dɪˈtɛkt/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-TEKT.
What does detect mean?
- discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of“She detected high levels of lead in her drinking water”“We found traces of lead in the paint”
Where does detect come from?
Sense "to work or solve cases as a detective" a back-formation from detective.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with detect
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of detect.
Questions about saying detect
How do you pronounce detect?
Say dih-TEKT. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈtɛkt/. In British English it is /dɪˈtɛkt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in detect?
Detect has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEKT). Broken into parts: dih · TEKT.
Do Americans and Brits say detect the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈtɛkt/ and the British form is /dɪˈtɛkt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.