How to pronounce innocent
Say it like IN-uh-sunt. Innocent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (IN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce innocent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- IN
- uh
- sunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Innocent pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- INSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- suntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of innocent
American and British speakers say innocent in essentially the same way: /ˈɪnəsənt/ in the US and /ˈɪnəsənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: IN-uh-sunt.
What does innocent mean?
- free from evil or guilt“an innocent child”“the principle that one is innocent until proved guilty”
- lacking intent or capacity to injure“an innocent prank”
- free from sin
- a person who lacks knowledge of evil
Where does innocent come from?
From Middle English innocent, from Old French innocent, inocent, borrowed from Latin innocēns (“harmless, inoffensive”), from in- (“not”) + nocēns, present participle of noceō (“to hurt”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying innocent
How do you pronounce innocent?
Say IN-uh-sunt. The American pronunciation is /ˈɪnəsənt/. In British English it is /ˈɪnəsənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in innocent?
Innocent has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (IN). Broken into parts: IN · uh · sunt.
Do Americans and Brits say innocent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɪnəsənt/ and the British form is /ˈɪnəsənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.