How to pronounce sapient
Say it like SAY-pee-unt. Sapient has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sapient. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SAY
- pee
- unt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sapient pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- peeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- untKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sapient
American and British speakers say sapient in essentially the same way: /ˈseɪpiənt/ in the US and /ˈseɪpiənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SAY-pee-unt.
What does sapient mean?
- Possessing discernment and wisdom; learned, wise.
- Followed by of: aware or knowledgeable of.
- Of a lifeform or species: possessing intelligence or a high degree of self-awareness.
- A wise person; a sage.
- An intelligent, self-aware being.
- A human being of the species Homo sapiens.
Where does sapient come from?
The noun is derived from the adjective, and also influenced by Latin sapiēns (noun) (see above).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying sapient
How do you pronounce sapient?
Say SAY-pee-unt. The American pronunciation is /ˈseɪpiənt/. In British English it is /ˈseɪpiənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sapient?
Sapient has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SAY). Broken into parts: SAY · pee · unt.
Do Americans and Brits say sapient the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈseɪpiənt/ and the British form is /ˈseɪpiənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.