How to Pronounce “inherent”

American (US)

/ɪnˈhɪəɹənt/

British (UK)

/ɪnˈhɪəɹənt/

adjective — Existing in something as a permanent and inseparable quality.

Example: There is an inherent risk in any surgery.

Synonyms: intrinsic, built-in

Antonyms: acquired

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

inherent (adjective): Existing in something as a permanent and inseparable quality. For example — There is an inherent risk in any surgery.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "inherent", /ɪnˈhɪəɹənt/, 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 "inherent"?

/ɪnˈhɪəɹənt/ in American English, /ɪnˈhɪəɹənt/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "inherent"?

“inherent” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ɪnˈhɪəɹənt/ 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.

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