How To Pronounce Defend

defend

Phonemic

/dɪˈfend/

Phonetic

[dɪˈfẽnd̚]

Phonemic

/dɪˈfend/

In British English, defend is pronounced /dɪˈfend/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [dɪˈfẽnd̚]. In American English, it is pronounced /dɪˈfend/.

Defend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second syllable. British and American speakers say it the same way.

Slashes / / show the phonemic transcription, the sounds that change meaning. Square brackets [ ] show the phonetic transcription, with the finer detail of how the sounds are actually made.

Syllables, Stress And Endings

Syllables And Stress

dɪfend

Defend has two syllables in British English, and the main stress is on the second syllable, shown in colour above. Its stress pattern is oO, where O is the stressed syllable.

defend + -s

-s (plural, possessive or singular verb) is /z/ after a voiced consonant or a vowel sound.

/dɪˈfendz/

defend + -ed

-ed (past tense or past participle) is /ɪd/ after /t/ or /d/.

/dɪˈfen.dɪd/

defend + -ing

-ing is always /ɪŋ/.

/dɪˈfen.dɪŋ/

Words That Rhyme With Defend

Questions About Defend

How do you pronounce defend in British English?

In British English, defend is pronounced /dɪˈfend/. The narrow phonetic transcription is [dɪˈfẽnd̚].

How do you pronounce defend in American English?

In American English, defend is pronounced /dɪˈfend/.

How many syllables are in defend?

Defend has two syllables, /dɪ/ + /fend/.

Where is the stress in defend?

The main stress is on the second syllable, /fend/.

Do British and American English pronounce defend the same way?

Yes. Both are /dɪˈfend/.

Search All 10,380 Words In The App

Other Words With The Stress Pattern oO

Nearby Words

Learn English and Literature with Adroit Tutors on our website, and order course materials there too.