How to pronounce obedient
Say it like oh-BEE-dee-unt. Obedient has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BEE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce obedient. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- oh
- BEE
- dee
- unt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Obedient pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- BEESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- deeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- untKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of obedient
- American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3.
British respelling: uh-BEE-deernt.
What does obedient mean?
- Willing to comply with the commands, orders, or instructions of those in authority; biddable.“Jessica was so intensely obedient of her parents that her brother sometimes thought she was a robot.”
- One who obeys.
Where does obedient come from?
From Middle English obedient, from Old French obedient, from Latin oboediēns, present active participle of oboediō (“obey”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with obedient
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of obedient.
Questions about saying obedient
How do you pronounce obedient?
Say oh-BEE-dee-unt. The American pronunciation is /oʊˈbidiənt/. In British English it is /əˈbiːdɪənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in obedient?
Obedient has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BEE). Broken into parts: oh · BEE · dee · unt.
Is obedient pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 4 syllables and British English 3. The British form is /əˈbiːdɪənt/ (uh-BEE-deernt).