How to pronounce detent
Say it like dih-TENT. Detent has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TENT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce detent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- TENT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Detent 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.
- TENTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of detent
American and British speakers say detent in essentially the same way: /dɪˈtɛnt/ in the US and /dɪˈtɛnt/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-TENT.
What does detent mean?
- That which locks or unlocks a movement; a catch (stopping mechanism), pawl, or dog; especially, in clockwork, the catch which locks and unlocks the wheelwork in striking.
- The action of locking or unlocking movement by way of a detent mechanism
Where does detent come from?
From French détente, from Latin tendō (“to stretch”).
Words that rhyme with detent
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of detent.
Questions about saying detent
How do you pronounce detent?
Say dih-TENT. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈtɛnt/. In British English it is /dɪˈtɛnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in detent?
Detent has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TENT). Broken into parts: dih · TENT.
Do Americans and Brits say detent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈtɛnt/ and the British form is /dɪˈtɛnt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.