How to pronounce faint
Say it like FAYNT. Faint is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- FAYNT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Faint pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FAYNTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of faint
American and British speakers say faint in essentially the same way: /feɪnt/ in the US and /feɪnt/ in the UK.
British respelling: FAYNT.
What does faint mean?
- deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc“a faint outline”“the wan sun cast faint shadows”
- lacking clarity or distinctness“a dim figure in the distance”“only a faint recollection”
- lacking strength or vigor“damning with faint praise”“faint resistance”
- pass out from weakness, physical or emotional distress due to a loss of blood supply to the brain
- a spontaneous loss of consciousness caused by insufficient blood to the brain
Where does faint come from?
From Middle English faynt, feynt (“weak; feeble”), from Old French faint, feint (“feigned; negligent; sluggish”), past participle of feindre, faindre (“to feign; sham; work negligently”), from Latin fingere (“to touch, handle, form, shape,
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with faint
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of faint.
Words that sound like faint
Questions about saying faint
How do you pronounce faint?
Say FAYNT. The American pronunciation is /feɪnt/. In British English it is /feɪnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in faint?
Faint is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: FAYNT.
Do Americans and Brits say faint the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /feɪnt/ and the British form is /feɪnt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as faint?
Faint sounds the same as feint in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.