How to pronounce reluctant
Say it like rih-LUHK-tunt. Reluctant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LUHK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce reluctant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- LUHK
- tunt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Reluctant 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.
- LUHKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- tuntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of reluctant
American and British speakers say reluctant in essentially the same way: /rɪˈlʌktənt/ in the US and /rɪˈlʌktənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-LUHK-tunt.
What does reluctant mean?
- unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom“a reluctant smile”“loath to admit a mistake”
- disinclined to become involved“they were usually reluctant to socialize”“reluctant to help”
- not eager“foreigners stubbornly reluctant to accept our ways”“fresh from college and reluctant for the moment to marry him”
Where does reluctant come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin reluctāns (whence -ant), present participle of reluctor (“to struggle against, oppose, resist”), from re- (“back”) + luctor (“to struggle”) (whence re-.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying reluctant
How do you pronounce reluctant?
Say rih-LUHK-tunt. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈlʌktənt/. In British English it is /rɪˈlʌktənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in reluctant?
Reluctant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LUHK). Broken into parts: rih · LUHK · tunt.
Do Americans and Brits say reluctant the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈlʌktənt/ and the British form is /rɪˈlʌktənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.