How to pronounce tenant
Say it like TEN-unt. Tenant has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce tenant. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEN
- unt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tenant pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- untKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of tenant
American and British speakers say tenant in essentially the same way: /ˈtɛnənt/ in the US and /ˈtɛnənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: TEN-unt.
What does tenant mean?
- someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else“the landlord can evict a tenant who doesn't pay the rent”
- a holder of buildings or lands by any kind of title (as ownership or lease)
- any occupant who dwells in a place
- occupy as a tenant
Where does tenant come from?
From Middle English tenaunt, from Anglo-Norman tenaunt and Old French tenant, present participle of tenir (“to hold”), from Latin tenēre (“hold, keep”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with tenant
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tenant.
Questions about saying tenant
How do you pronounce tenant?
Say TEN-unt. The American pronunciation is /ˈtɛnənt/. In British English it is /ˈtɛnənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tenant?
Tenant has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TEN). Broken into parts: TEN · unt.
Do Americans and Brits say tenant the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtɛnənt/ and the British form is /ˈtɛnənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.