How to pronounce sustained
Say it like suh-STAYND. Sustained has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STAYND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sustained. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- suh
- STAYND
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sustained pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- STAYNDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of sustained
American and British speakers say sustained in essentially the same way: /səˈsteɪnd/ in the US and /səˈsteɪnd/ in the UK.
British respelling: suh-STAYND.
What does sustained mean?
- maintained at length without interruption or weakening“sustained flight”
- (of an electric arc) continuous“heat transfer to the anode in free burning arcs”
Words that rhyme with sustained
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sustained.
Questions about saying sustained
How do you pronounce sustained?
Say suh-STAYND. The American pronunciation is /səˈsteɪnd/. In British English it is /səˈsteɪnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sustained?
Sustained has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STAYND). Broken into parts: suh · STAYND.
Do Americans and Brits say sustained the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /səˈsteɪnd/ and the British form is /səˈsteɪnd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.