How to pronounce incandescent
Say it like in-kun-DES-unt. Incandescent has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (DES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce incandescent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- kun
- DES
- unt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Incandescent pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- kunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- DESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- untKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of incandescent
American and British speakers say incandescent in essentially the same way: /ˌɪnkənˈdɛsənt/ in the US and /ˌɪnkænˈdɛsənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-kan-DES-unt.
What does incandescent mean?
- Emitting light as a result of being heated.
- Shining very brightly.
- Showing intense emotion, as of a performance, etc.“The incandescent performance enraptured the audience.”
- An incandescent lamp or bulb.
Where does incandescent come from?
Borrowed from French incandescent, from Latin incandescens, from incandesco (“be heated, glow”), from in- (intensifying prefix) + candesco (“become white”), from candidus (“white”).
Words that rhyme with incandescent
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of incandescent.
- adolescent
- crescent
- fluorescent
- incessant
- antidepressant
- iridescent
- pubescent
- convalescent
- depressant
- effervescent
Questions about saying incandescent
How do you pronounce incandescent?
Say in-kun-DES-unt. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnkənˈdɛsənt/. In British English it is /ˌɪnkænˈdɛsənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in incandescent?
Incandescent has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (DES). Broken into parts: in · kun · DES · unt.
Do Americans and Brits say incandescent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪnkənˈdɛsənt/ and the British form is /ˌɪnkænˈdɛsənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.