How to pronounce pungent
Say it like PUHN-junt. Pungent has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUHN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce pungent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PUHN
- junt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Pungent pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PUHNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- juntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of pungent
American and British speakers say pungent in essentially the same way: /ˈpʌndʒənt/ in the US and /ˈpʌndʒənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: PUHN-junt.
What does pungent mean?
- Having a strong odor that stings the nose; said especially of acidic or spicy substances.“I accidentally dropped the bottle of ammonia and after few seconds, a very pungent stench could be detected.”
- Having a strong taste that stings the tongue; said especially of hot (spicy) food, which has a strong and sharp or bitter taste.
- Stinging; acerbic.“The critic gave a pungent review.”
Where does pungent come from?
Borrowed from Latin pungens (stem pungent-), present participle of pungo (“to sting”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying pungent
How do you pronounce pungent?
Say PUHN-junt. The American pronunciation is /ˈpʌndʒənt/. In British English it is /ˈpʌndʒənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pungent?
Pungent has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PUHN). Broken into parts: PUHN · junt.
Do Americans and Brits say pungent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpʌndʒənt/ and the British form is /ˈpʌndʒənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.