How to pronounce retention
Say it like ree-TEN-shun. Retention 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 retention. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ree
- TEN
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Retention pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- reeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of retention
American and British speakers say retention in essentially the same way: /riˈtɛnʃən/ in the US and /rɪˈtɛnʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: rih-TEN-shun.
What does retention mean?
- the act of retaining something
- the power of retaining and recalling past experience“he had a good memory when he was younger”
- the power of retaining liquid“moisture retentivity of soil”
Where does retention come from?
From Middle English retencioun, borrowed from Latin retentiō, retentiōnis, from retentus, the perfect passive participle of retineō (“retain”) (from re- (“back, again”) + teneō (“hold, keep”)).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with retention
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of retention.
Questions about saying retention
How do you pronounce retention?
Say ree-TEN-shun. The American pronunciation is /riˈtɛnʃən/. In British English it is /rɪˈtɛnʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in retention?
Retention has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEN). Broken into parts: ree · TEN · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say retention the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /riˈtɛnʃən/ and the British form is /rɪˈtɛnʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.