How to pronounce entertain
Say it like en-ter-TAYN. Entertain has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TAYN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce entertain. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- en
- ter
- TAYN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Entertain pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- enGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- TAYNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of entertain
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: en-tuh-TAYN.
What does entertain mean?
- provide entertainment for
- take into consideration, have in view“He entertained the notion of moving to South America”
- maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)“bear a grudge”“entertain interesting notions”
Where does entertain come from?
Sense of answering a phone call in Malaysian English is influenced by Malay layan “to serve, to attend to or engage with something”.
Words that rhyme with entertain
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of entertain.
Questions about saying entertain
How do you pronounce entertain?
Say en-ter-TAYN. The American pronunciation is /ˌɛntɚˈteɪn/. In British English it is /ˌɛntəˈteɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in entertain?
Entertain has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TAYN). Broken into parts: en · ter · TAYN.
Is entertain pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌɛntəˈteɪn/ (en-tuh-TAYN).