The word “present” can be pronounced in two different ways, depending on its usage:
As a Noun (referring to a gift or the current time):
- Pronunciation: /ˈprɛz.ənt/ (PREZ-uhnt)
- Breakdown:
- The first syllable “prez” is pronounced with a short ‘e’ sound, like the ‘e’ in “let.”
- The second syllable “ent” is pronounced like the word “ent” or “went.”
- When spoken together, “present” emphasizes the first syllable, with a short ‘e’ sound followed by “ent.” This pronunciation is common in both American and British English.
As a Verb (to give or to show):
- Pronunciation: /prɪˈzɛnt/ (prih-ZENT)
- Breakdown:
- The first syllable “prih” is pronounced with a short ‘i’ sound, like the ‘i’ in “sit.”
- The second syllable “zent” is pronounced like the word “sent” or “went.”
- When spoken together, “present” emphasizes the second syllable, with a short ‘i’ sound followed by “zent.” This pronunciation is also common in both American and British English.
In both cases, the stress may vary depending on the speaker’s regional accent or emphasis within a sentence. Generally, “present” as a noun tends to stress the first syllable, while “present” as a verb tends to stress the second syllable.
