How to pronounce independent
Say it like in-dih-PEN-dunt. Independent has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (PEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce independent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- dih
- PEN
- dunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Independent 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.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- PENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- duntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of independent
American and British speakers say independent in essentially the same way: /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt/ in the US and /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-dih-PEN-dunt.
What does independent mean?
- free from external control and constraint“an independent mind”“a series of independent judgments”
- (of political bodies) not controlled by outside forces“an autonomous judiciary”“a sovereign state”
- (of a clause) capable of standing syntactically alone as a complete sentence“the main (or independent) clause in a complex sentence has at least a subject and a verb”
- a neutral or uncommitted person (especially in politics)
- a writer or artist who sells services to different employers without a long-term contract with any of them
Where does independent come from?
From Middle English independent, equivalent to in- + dependent.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with independent
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of independent.
- defendant
- superintendent
- attendant
- pendant
- descendant
- transcendent
- dependant
- ascendant
- resplendent
- interdependent
Questions about saying independent
How do you pronounce independent?
Say in-dih-PEN-dunt. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt/. In British English it is /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in independent?
Independent has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (PEN). Broken into parts: in · dih · PEN · dunt.
Do Americans and Brits say independent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt/ and the British form is /ˌɪndɪˈpɛndənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.