How to Pronounce “contingent”

American (US)

/kənˈtɪn.d͡ʒənt/

British (UK)

/kənˈtɪn.d͡ʒənt/

noun — An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something in the future.

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

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /kənˈtɪn.d͡ʒənt/ 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 "contingent" mean?

contingent (noun): An event which may or may not happen; that which is unforeseen, undetermined, or dependent on something in the future.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "contingent", /kənˈtɪn.d͡ʒənt/, 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 "contingent"?

/kənˈtɪn.d͡ʒənt/ in American English, /kənˈtɪn.d͡ʒənt/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "contingent"?

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