Learn How to Pronounce contentious
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How to pronounce:
contentious
Phonetic Transcription:
kənˈtenʃəs
Examples:
The critics consider this as contentious issue and malign the the group.
One of the most contentious issues is the disposal of radioactive waste.
It's contentious, and rancorous.
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How to perfect your pronunciation of: contentious
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Common mistakes of contentious pronunciation
- Stress placement: Many people incorrectly stress the second syllable, saying "con-'TEN-tious." The correct pronunciation is with the primary stress on the second syllable: /kənˈtɛn.ʃəs/ in US and /kənˈtɛn.ʃəs/ in UK. Tip: Focus on emphasizing the "ten" when saying "contentious."
- Vowel sound confusion: Some may confuse the vowel sound in the first syllable, pronouncing it as "CON-ten-tious." The correct first syllable is pronounced with a schwa sound: /kən/ in both US and UK. Tip: Practice saying "con" softly to ensure you use the schwa.
- Mispronouncing the "t": A common mistake is to pronounce the "t" too harshly, making it sound like "con-ten-tious." The "t" should be softer, blending into the following "ious" sound. Tip: Try to keep the "t" light and quick.
- Omitting the final syllable: Some speakers may drop the last syllable altogether, saying "con-'ten." The full pronunciation includes all syllables: /kənˈtɛn.ʃəs/. Tip: Make sure to finish with "tious" to convey the full meaning.
- Incorrectly pronouncing "ious": People often mispronounce "ious" as "ious" with a long "i" sound. The correct pronunciation is /ʃəs/, as in "shus." Tip: Think of "contentious" ending with "shus" to avoid this mistake.