How to pronounce sycophant
Say it like SIK-uh-fant. Sycophant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sycophant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SIK
- uh
- fant
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sycophant pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SIKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- fantKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
American vs British pronunciation of sycophant
American and British speakers say sycophant in essentially the same way: /ˈsɪkəfænt/ in the US and /ˈsɪkəfənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: SIK-uh-funt.
What does sycophant mean?
- One who uses obsequious compliments to gain self-serving favor or advantage from another; a servile flatterer.
- One who seeks to gain through the powerful and influential.
- To play the sycophant toward; to flatter obsequiously.
Where does sycophant come from?
Cognate with Italian sicofante, Spanish sicofanta.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying sycophant
How do you pronounce sycophant?
Say SIK-uh-fant. The American pronunciation is /ˈsɪkəfænt/. In British English it is /ˈsɪkəfənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sycophant?
Sycophant has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SIK). Broken into parts: SIK · uh · fant.
Do Americans and Brits say sycophant the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈsɪkəfænt/ and the British form is /ˈsɪkəfənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.