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Try LingUp Now!Start with the first syllable 'con-'. The 'o' is a weak schwa sound /ə/, like the 'a' in 'about'. Your mouth is relaxed. Touch your tongue tip to the roof of your mouth for the 'n'.
Move to the stressed syllable '-tend'. The 'e' sound is /ɛ/, like in the word 'bed'. Your jaw should drop slightly.
Finish with the '-nd' sound. Touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth for 'n', then release a clear 'd' sound.
Pronouncing the first 'o' like in 'go' (CONE-tend). It should be a weak 'kuhn' sound.
Putting the stress on the first syllable (CON-tend). The stress is on the second syllable (con-TEND).
Dropping the final 'd' sound (con-ten). The 'd' must be pronounced.
same as American
same as American
The 'o' is a very short, weak sound called a schwa (/ə/). It sounds like 'kuhn'. Your mouth and tongue should be very relaxed. Do not say 'cone'.
The stress is on the second syllable: con-TEND. Make the '-tend' part louder, longer, and slightly higher in pitch than 'con-'.
No, the final 'd' is not silent. You must pronounce it clearly. Practice by saying 'tend' and making sure the 'd' sound is audible at the end.
To compete to win something, or to deal with a difficult situation.
/kənˈtɛnʃən/
disagreement or argument
/kənˈtɛndər/
a person who competes to win
/kənˈtɛnʃəs/
causing or likely to cause an argument
- The ending changes from a /d/ sound to a /ʃən/ ('shun') sound.
- An unstressed '-er' (/ər/) sound is added to the end. The stress pattern is the same (con-TEND-er).
- The ending changes to '-tious' (/ʃəs/), which sounds like 'shus'. The stress is still on the second syllable.
For many two-syllable verbs like contend, decide, and report, the stress is on the second syllable. Practice saying con-TEND to feel the rhythm.
The '-nd' at the end is a consonant cluster. Practice saying it clearly. Feel your tongue move from the 'n' position to the 'd' position on the roof of your mouth.
