How to pronounce pretender
Say it like pree-TEN-der. Pretender 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 pretender. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pree
- TEN
- der
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pretender 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.
- derKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of pretender
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: pree-TEN-duh.
What does pretender mean?
- One who puts forth a claim, or who aspires to or aims at something; a claimant, candidate, or aspirant; now, one who makes baseless pretensions.
- A claimant to a throne or the office of a ruler; originally in a neutral sense, but now always applied to a claimant who is held to have no just title.
- One who pretends or lays claim to something; one who makes a profession, show, or assertion, especially without adequate grounds, falsely, or with intent to deceive; a dissembler, deceiver, charlatan, hypocrite.
- To tender (a bid, etc.) in advance.
Where does pretender come from?
From pretend + -er.
Words that rhyme with pretender
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pretender.
Questions about saying pretender
How do you pronounce pretender?
Say pree-TEN-der. The American pronunciation is /priˈtɛndɚ/. In British English it is /priˈtɛndə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pretender?
Pretender has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: pree · TEN · der.
Is pretender 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 /priˈtɛndə/ (pree-TEN-duh).