How to pronounce pentagon
Say it like PEN-tih-gahn. Pentagon has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pentagon. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PEN
- tih
- gahn
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pentagon pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- gahnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of pentagon
American and British speakers say pentagon in essentially the same way: /ˈpɛntɪˌɡɑn/ in the US and /ˈpɛntəɡən/ in the UK.
British respelling: PEN-tuh-gun.
What does pentagon mean?
- a government building with five sides that serves as the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense
- the United States military establishment
- a five-sided polygon
Questions about saying pentagon
How do you pronounce pentagon?
Say PEN-tih-gahn. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɛntɪˌɡɑn/. In British English it is /ˈpɛntəɡən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pentagon?
Pentagon has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PEN). Broken into parts: PEN · tih · gahn.
Do Americans and Brits say pentagon the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpɛntɪˌɡɑn/ and the British form is /ˈpɛntəɡən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.