How to pronounce genuflect
Say it like JEN-yuu-flekt. Genuflect has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce genuflect. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- JEN
- yuu
- flekt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Genuflect pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- JENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- yuuKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- flektKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of genuflect
American and British speakers say genuflect in essentially the same way: /ˈdʒɛnjʊflɛkt/ in the US and /ˈdʒɛnjʊflɛkt/ in the UK.
British respelling: JEN-yuu-flekt.
What does genuflect mean?
- To briefly enter a position that touches one knee to the ground in a manner that is typically associated with formal homage or religious worship.
- To behave in a servile manner; to grovel.
Where does genuflect come from?
From around 1620–1630 from Medieval Latin genūflectō (“to bend the knee”) equivalent to the Latin genū (“knee”) + flectō (“to bend”).
Questions about saying genuflect
How do you pronounce genuflect?
Say JEN-yuu-flekt. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʒɛnjʊflɛkt/. In British English it is /ˈdʒɛnjʊflɛkt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in genuflect?
Genuflect has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (JEN). Broken into parts: JEN · yuu · flekt.
Do Americans and Brits say genuflect the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdʒɛnjʊflɛkt/ and the British form is /ˈdʒɛnjʊflɛkt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.