How to pronounce pretended
Say it like pree-TEN-did. Pretended has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pretended. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pree
- TEN
- did
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pretended pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- preeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- didKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of pretended
American and British speakers say pretended in essentially the same way: /priˈtɛndɪd/ in the US and /priˈtɛndɪd/ in the UK.
British respelling: pree-TEN-did.
What does pretended mean?
- adopted in order to deceive“an assumed name”“an assumed cheerfulness”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pretended
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pretended.
Questions about saying pretended
How do you pronounce pretended?
Say pree-TEN-did. The American pronunciation is /priˈtɛndɪd/. In British English it is /priˈtɛndɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pretended?
Pretended has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: pree · TEN · did.
Do Americans and Brits say pretended the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /priˈtɛndɪd/ and the British form is /priˈtɛndɪd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.