Learn How to Pronounce certain

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certain

Phonetic Transcription:

ˈsɜːtən

Examples:

In the darkness the coxswain was not certain of his position.

I am sure this will be the cause of much merriment in certain circles.

The date of the image is not certain.

Learn more about:
certain

Related Words:

clear

sure

positive

How to perfect your pronunciation of: certain

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Common mistakes of certain pronunciation

Stress placement: Many people mistakenly stress the second syllable, pronouncing "certain" as /sərˈtɛn/. The correct pronunciation is /ˈsɜr.tən/ in US English and /ˈsɜː.tən/ in UK English. Tip: Focus on the first syllable to avoid this error.
Vowel confusion: Some learners pronounce the first vowel as /ɜː/ instead of /ɜr/. This leads to an incorrect pronunciation like /ˈsɜː.tən/. Tip: Practice saying "sir" to get the vowel sound right.
Silent "t": A common mistake is to pronounce the "t" in "certain" as /t/, leading to /ˈsɜr.tɪn/. In reality, the "t" is silent. Tip: Remember that "certain" has a softer ending, omitting the "t" sound.
Adding an extra syllable: Some might pronounce it as /ˈsɜr.tən/ with an additional syllable, sounding like "sir-tin". The correct pronunciation is /ˈsɜr.tən/ or /ˈsɜː.tən/. Tip: Break the word into two clear syllables to maintain the correct structure.
Mispronouncing the final "n": Often, learners incorrectly pronounce the final "n" as /m/, resulting in /ˈsɜr.təm/. The correct pronunciation maintains the "n" sound. Tip: Emphasize the "n" at the end when practicing.

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "certain" in American English?

In American English, "certain" is pronounced as /ˈsɜr.tən/. The primary stress is on the first syllable, which sounds like "sir," and the second syllable is a schwa, pronounced like "tən."

What is the British pronunciation of "certain"?

In British English, "certain" is also pronounced as /ˈsɜː.tən/. The main difference is that the first syllable is longer, sounding more like "sair," while the second syllable remains a schwa.

Are there common mistakes when pronouncing "certain"?

One common mistake is misplacing the stress, saying "cer-TAN" instead of "CER-tain." Another error is overemphasizing the second syllable, which should be more subtle and relaxed.

How many syllables are in the word "certain"?

The word "certain" has two syllables: "cer" and "tain." The first syllable carries the stress, making it sound clearer and more pronounced than the second.