How to pronounce scent
Say it like SENT. Scent is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce scent. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SENT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Scent pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SENTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of scent
American and British speakers say scent in essentially the same way: /sɛnt/ in the US and /sɛnt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SENT.
What does scent mean?
- a distinctive odor that is pleasant
- an odor left in passing by which a person or animal can be traced
- any property detected by the olfactory system
- cause to smell or be smelly
- catch the scent of; get wind of“The dog nosed out the drugs”
- apply perfume to“She perfumes herself every day”
Where does scent come from?
From Middle English sent (noun) and senten (verb), from Old French sentir (“to feel, perceive, smell, sense”), from Latin sentiō, sentīre (“to feel, sense”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with scent
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of scent.
Words that sound like scent
Questions about saying scent
How do you pronounce scent?
Say SENT. The American pronunciation is /sɛnt/. In British English it is /sɛnt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in scent?
Scent is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: SENT.
Do Americans and Brits say scent the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /sɛnt/ and the British form is /sɛnt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.
What words sound the same as scent?
Scent sounds the same as cent, sent in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.