How to Pronounce “contradict”

British (UK)

/ˌkɒn.tɹəˈdɪkt/

Australian (AU)

/ˌkɔn.tɹəˈdɪkt/

verb — To deny the truth or validity of (a statement or statements).

Example: His testimony contradicts hers.

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

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌkɒn.tɹəˈdɪkt/ 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 "contradict" mean?

contradict (verb): To deny the truth or validity of (a statement or statements). For example — His testimony contradicts hers.

Which syllable is stressed in "contradict"?

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