How to pronounce inept
Say it like in-EPT. Inept has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EPT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce inept. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- EPT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Inept 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.
- EPTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of inept
American and British speakers say inept in essentially the same way: /ˌɪˈnɛpt/ in the US and /ɪˈnɛpt/ in the UK.
British respelling: ih-NEPT.
What does inept mean?
- Not able to do something; not proficient; displaying incompetence.“As a waiter, he was inept, so they put him in the kitchen.”
- Unfit; unsuitable.
Where does inept come from?
Borrowed from Middle French inepte, from Latin ineptus, from in- + aptus (whence English apt).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with inept
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of inept.
Questions about saying inept
How do you pronounce inept?
Say in-EPT. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪˈnɛpt/. In British English it is /ɪˈnɛpt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in inept?
Inept has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EPT). Broken into parts: in · EPT.
Do Americans and Brits say inept the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪˈnɛpt/ and the British form is /ɪˈnɛpt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.