How to pronounce percentage
Say it like per-SEN-tuj. Percentage has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce percentage. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- per
- SEN
- tuj
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Percentage 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.
- SENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- tujKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of percentage
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: puh-SEN-tij.
What does percentage mean?
- a proportion in relation to a whole (which is usually the amount per hundred)
- assets belonging to or due to or contributed by an individual person or group“he wanted his share in cash”
Where does percentage come from?
From percent, from Latin per centum (“for every hundred”), + -age (suffix indicating a rate).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- pct
Questions about saying percentage
How do you pronounce percentage?
Say per-SEN-tuj. The American pronunciation is /pɚˈsɛntədʒ/. In British English it is /pəˈsɛntɪdʒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in percentage?
Percentage has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEN). Broken into parts: per · SEN · tuj.
Is percentage 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 /pəˈsɛntɪdʒ/ (puh-SEN-tij).