How to pronounce insect
Say it like IN-sekt. Insect has two 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 insect. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- IN
- sekt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Insect 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.
- sektGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of insect
American and British speakers say insect in essentially the same way: /ˈɪnˌsɛkt/ in the US and /ˈɪnˌsɛkt/ in the UK.
British respelling: IN-sekt.
What does insect mean?
- small air-breathing arthropod
- a person who has a nasty or unethical character undeserving of respect
Where does insect come from?
Borrowed from Middle French insecte, from Latin īnsectum, from īnsectus (“cut into, cut up, with a notched or divided body”), from perfect passive participle of īnsecō (“to cut into, to cut up”), from in- + secō (“to cut”), from the notion
Questions about saying insect
How do you pronounce insect?
Say IN-sekt. The American pronunciation is /ˈɪnˌsɛkt/. In British English it is /ˈɪnˌsɛkt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in insect?
Insect has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (IN). Broken into parts: IN · sekt.
Do Americans and Brits say insect the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈɪnˌsɛkt/ and the British form is /ˈɪnˌsɛkt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.