How to pronounce pretensions
Say it like pruh-TEN-shunz. Pretensions 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 pretensions. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pruh
- TEN
- shunz
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pretensions pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- shunzKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of pretensions
American and British speakers say pretensions in essentially the same way: /prəˈtɛnʃənz/ in the US and /prəˈtɛnʃənz/ in the UK.
British respelling: pruh-TEN-shunz.
What does pretensions mean?
- plural of pretension How to pronounce pretension
Questions about saying pretensions
How do you pronounce pretensions?
Say pruh-TEN-shunz. The American pronunciation is /prəˈtɛnʃənz/. In British English it is /prəˈtɛnʃənz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pretensions?
Pretensions has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: pruh · TEN · shunz.
Do Americans and Brits say pretensions the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /prəˈtɛnʃənz/ and the British form is /prəˈtɛnʃənz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.