How to pronounce pretending
Say it like pree-TEN-ding. Pretending 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 pretending. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pree
- TEN
- ding
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pretending 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.
- dingKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of pretending
American and British speakers say pretending in essentially the same way: /priˈtɛndɪŋ/ in the US and /prɪˈtɛndɪŋ/ in the UK.
British respelling: prih-TEN-ding.
What does pretending mean?
- the act of giving a false appearance“his conformity was only pretending”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pretending
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pretending.
Questions about saying pretending
How do you pronounce pretending?
Say pree-TEN-ding. The American pronunciation is /priˈtɛndɪŋ/. In British English it is /prɪˈtɛndɪŋ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pretending?
Pretending has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: pree · TEN · ding.
Do Americans and Brits say pretending the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /priˈtɛndɪŋ/ and the British form is /prɪˈtɛndɪŋ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.