How to pronounce saint
Say it like SAYNT. Saint is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- SAYNT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Saint pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SAYNTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of saint
American and British speakers say saint in essentially the same way: /seɪnt/ in the US and /seɪnt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SAYNT.
What does saint mean?
- A deceased person whom a church or another religious group has officially recognised as especially holy or godly; one eminent for piety and virtue.“The Roman Catholic Church proclaimed Kateri Tekakwitha a saint in 2012.”
- One of the blessed in heaven.
- A Christian; a faithful believer in the present world.
- Synonym of canonize: to honor, formally name, or revere as a saint.“Many Catholics wished to see Pope John Paul II sainted immediately after his death.”
Where does saint come from?
From Middle English saint, seint, sainct, seinct, sanct, senct, partly from Old English sanct (“saint”) and confluence with Old French saint, seinte (Modern French saint); both from Latin sānctus (“holy, consecrated”, in Late Latin as a nou
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with saint
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of saint.
Words that sound like saint
Questions about saying saint
How do you pronounce saint?
Say SAYNT. The American pronunciation is /seɪnt/. In British English it is /seɪnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in saint?
Saint is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SAYNT.
Do Americans and Brits say saint the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /seɪnt/ and the British form is /seɪnt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as saint?
Saint sounds the same as st in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.