How to pronounce obtain
Say it like ub-TAYN. Obtain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAYN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce obtain. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ub
- TAYN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Obtain pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ubKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TAYNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of obtain
American and British speakers say obtain in essentially the same way: /əbˈteɪn/ in the US and /əbˈteɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: ub-TAYN.
What does obtain mean?
- come into possession of“How did you obtain the visa?”
- receive a specified treatment (abstract)“These aspects of civilization do not find expression or receive an interpretation”“His movie received a good review”
- be valid, applicable, or true“This theory still holds”
Where does obtain come from?
From Middle English obteinen, from Anglo-Norman obtenir, optiner et al., and Middle French obtenir, from Latin obtinēre (“to gain, achieve, succeed, possess”), from ob- + tenēre (“to hold”).
Words that rhyme with obtain
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of obtain.
Questions about saying obtain
How do you pronounce obtain?
Say ub-TAYN. The American pronunciation is /əbˈteɪn/. In British English it is /əbˈteɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in obtain?
Obtain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAYN). Broken into parts: ub · TAYN.
Do Americans and Brits say obtain the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əbˈteɪn/ and the British form is /əbˈteɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.