How to Pronounce “competent”

American (US)

/ˈkɒmpətənt/

British (UK)

/ˈkɒmpətənt/

adjective — Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications.

Example: He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.

Where the stress falls. “competent” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈkɒmpətənt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈkɒmpətənt/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "competent" mean?

competent (adjective): Having sufficient skill, knowledge, ability, or qualifications. For example — He is a competent skier and an expert snowboarder.

How do you pronounce "competent" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "competent", /ˈkɒmpətənt/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "competent"?

/ˈkɒmpətənt/ in American English, /ˈkɒmpətənt/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "competent"?

“competent” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈkɒmpətənt/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.