How to pronounce detention
Say it like dih-TEN-shun. Detention has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce detention. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- TEN
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Detention 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.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of detention
American and British speakers say detention in essentially the same way: /dɪˈtɛnʃən/ in the US and /dɪˈtɛnʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-TEN-shun.
What does detention mean?
- a state of being confined (usually for a short time)“his detention was politically motivated”“the prisoner is on hold”
- a punishment in which a student must stay at school after others have gone home“the detention of tardy pupils”
Where does detention come from?
Borrowed from Middle French détention, from Latin detentio, detentionem.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with detention
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of detention.
Questions about saying detention
How do you pronounce detention?
Say dih-TEN-shun. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈtɛnʃən/. In British English it is /dɪˈtɛnʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in detention?
Detention has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: dih · TEN · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say detention the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈtɛnʃən/ and the British form is /dɪˈtɛnʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.