How to pronounce potent
Say it like POH-tunt. Potent has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce potent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- POH
- tunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Potent pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- POHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- tuntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of potent
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: POH-tunt.
What does potent mean?
- having great influence
- having or wielding force or authority“providing the ground soldier with increasingly potent weapons”
- having a strong physiological or chemical effect“a potent toxin”“potent liquor”
Where does potent come from?
From Middle English potent, borrowed from Latin potens, potentis (“powerful, strong, potent”), present participle of posse (“to be able”), from potis (“able, powerful, originally a lord, master”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying potent
How do you pronounce potent?
Say POH-tunt. The American pronunciation is /ˈpoʊtənt/. In British English it is /ˈpəʊtənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in potent?
Potent has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (POH). Broken into parts: POH · tunt.
Is potent pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˈpəʊtənt/ (POH-tunt).