How to pronounce tend
Say it like TEND. Tend 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 tend. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TEND
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tend pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TENDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of tend
American and British speakers say tend in essentially the same way: /tɛnd/ in the US and /tɛnd/ in the UK.
British respelling: TEND.
What does tend mean?
- have a tendency or disposition to do or be something; be inclined“She tends to be nervous before her lectures”“These dresses run small”
- have care of or look after“She tends to the children”
- manage or run“tend a store”
Where does tend come from?
From Middle English tenden, from Middle French tendre, from Old French tendre (“to stretch, stretch out, hold forth, offer, tender”), from Latin tendere (“to stretch, stretch out, extend, spread out”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with tend
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of tend.
Questions about saying tend
How do you pronounce tend?
Say TEND. The American pronunciation is /tɛnd/. In British English it is /tɛnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in tend?
Tend is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: TEND.
Do Americans and Brits say tend the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /tɛnd/ and the British form is /tɛnd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.