How to Pronounce “nascent”

American (US)

/ˈneɪ.sənt/

British (UK)

/ˈneɪ.sənt/

Australian (AU)

/ˈnæɪ.sənt/

adjective — Just coming into existence and beginning to develop.

Example: The nascent industry had no regulation at all.

Synonyms: emerging, budding

Antonyms: mature

Where the stress falls. “nascent” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈneɪ.sənt/ 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. /ˈneɪ.sənt/ 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 "nascent" mean?

nascent (adjective): Just coming into existence and beginning to develop. For example — The nascent industry had no regulation at all.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "nascent", /ˈneɪ.sənt/, 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 "nascent"?

/ˈneɪ.sənt/ in American English, /ˈneɪ.sənt/ in British English, /ˈnæɪ.sənt/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "nascent"?

“nascent” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /ˈneɪ.sənt/ 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.