How to pronounce intelligent
Say it like in-TEL-uh-junt. Intelligent has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce intelligent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- TEL
- uh
- junt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Intelligent 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.
- TELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- juntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of intelligent
American and British speakers say intelligent in essentially the same way: /ˌɪnˈtɛlədʒənt/ in the US and /ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: in-TEL-ih-junt.
What does intelligent mean?
- having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree“is there intelligent life in the universe?”“an intelligent question”
- possessing sound knowledge“well-informed readers”
- exercising or showing good judgment“healthy scepticism”“a healthy fear of rattlesnakes”
Where does intelligent come from?
From Middle French intelligent, from Latin intellegēns (“discerning”), present active participle of intellegō (“understand, comprehend”), itself from inter (“between”) + legō (“choose, pick out, read”).
Questions about saying intelligent
How do you pronounce intelligent?
Say in-TEL-uh-junt. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪnˈtɛlədʒənt/. In British English it is /ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in intelligent?
Intelligent has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEL). Broken into parts: in · TEL · uh · junt.
Do Americans and Brits say intelligent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪnˈtɛlədʒənt/ and the British form is /ɪnˈtɛlɪdʒənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.