How to Pronounce “diligent”

British (UK)

/ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/

adjective — Performing with industrious concentration; hard-working and focused.

Example: Scientists are very diligent in their work.

Where the stress falls. “diligent” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/ 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. /ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/ 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 "diligent" mean?

diligent (adjective): Performing with industrious concentration; hard-working and focused. For example — Scientists are very diligent in their work.

Which syllable is stressed in "diligent"?

“diligent” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/ 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.