How to pronounce retain
Say it like rih-TAYN. Retain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAYN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce retain. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- rih
- TAYN
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Retain 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.
- TAYNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of retain
American and British speakers say retain in essentially the same way: /rɪˈteɪn/ in the US and /rɪˈteɪn/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-TAYN.
What does retain mean?
- hold back within“This soil retains water”“I retain this drug for a long time”
- allow to remain in a place or position or maintain a property or feature“We cannot continue several servants any longer”“She retains a lawyer”
- secure and keep for possible future use or application“The landlord retained the security deposit”“I reserve the right to disagree”
Words that rhyme with retain
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of retain.
Questions about saying retain
How do you pronounce retain?
Say rih-TAYN. The American pronunciation is /rɪˈteɪn/. In British English it is /rɪˈteɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in retain?
Retain has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TAYN). Broken into parts: rih · TAYN.
Do Americans and Brits say retain the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /rɪˈteɪn/ and the British form is /rɪˈteɪn/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.