How to pronounce percent
Say it like per-SENT. Percent has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SENT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce percent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- SENT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Percent pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- perKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- SENTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of percent
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: puh-SENT.
What does percent mean?
- a proportion in relation to a whole (which is usually the amount per hundred)
Where does percent come from?
From New Latin per centum (“by the hundred”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- pct
Words that rhyme with percent
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of percent.
Questions about saying percent
How do you pronounce percent?
Say per-SENT. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈsɛnt/. In British English it is /pəˈsɛnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in percent?
Percent has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SENT). Broken into parts: per · SENT.
Is percent pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /pəˈsɛnt/ (puh-SENT).