How to pronounce sentient
Say it like SEN-shee-unt. Sentient has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sentient. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SEN
- shee
- unt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sentient pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- sheeKeep 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 sentient
American and British speakers say sentient in essentially the same way: /ˈsɛnʃiənt/ in the US and /ˈsɛntiənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SEN-tee-unt.
What does sentient mean?
- Experiencing sensation, thought, or feeling.“Consider fish, who are apparently sentient yet cognitively extremely primitive in comparison with humans.”
- Able to consciously perceive through the use of sense faculties.
- Possessing human-like awareness and intelligence.
- Lifeform with the capability to feel sensation, such as pain.
- An intelligent, self-aware being.
Where does sentient come from?
From Latin sentiēns (“feeling, perceiving”), present active participle of sentiō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying sentient
How do you pronounce sentient?
Say SEN-shee-unt. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɛnʃiənt/. In British English it is /ˈsɛntiənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sentient?
Sentient has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SEN). Broken into parts: SEN · shee · unt.
Do Americans and Brits say sentient the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɛnʃiənt/ and the British form is /ˈsɛntiənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.