How to pronounce recalcitrant
Say it like rih-KAL-sih-trunt. Recalcitrant has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce recalcitrant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- KAL
- sih
- trunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Recalcitrant pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- rihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- KALSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- sihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- truntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of recalcitrant
American and British speakers say recalcitrant in essentially the same way: /rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/ in the US and /rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-KAL-sih-trunt.
What does recalcitrant mean?
- Marked by a stubborn unwillingness to obey authority.
- Unwilling to cooperate socially.
- Difficult to deal with or to operate.
- A person who is recalcitrant.
Where does recalcitrant come from?
Borrowed from French récalcitrant, in derived from Latin recalcitrāns, recalcitrantis, present participle of recalcitrō, recalcitrāre (“be disobedient, kick back [as a horse]”), from calx (“heel”), 1820s.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying recalcitrant
How do you pronounce recalcitrant?
Say rih-KAL-sih-trunt. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/. In British English it is /rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in recalcitrant?
Recalcitrant has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAL). Broken into parts: rih · KAL · sih · trunt.
Do Americans and Brits say recalcitrant the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/ and the British form is /rɪˈkælsɪtrənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.