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Pronunciation

How to pronounce “contract”

“contract” is pronounced /ˈkɑnˌtɹækt/ (KAHN-trakt) in American English and /kɒntɹakt/ in British English, and /kənˈtɹækt/ is also accepted — 2 syllables, stressed on “cont”.
The sound

Say “contract” in 2 beats

Say it like this

contract

/ˈkɑnˌtɹækt/

The voice you hear here is American; the British form is /kɒntɹakt/ (see the table below), and a British voice is available in the app's settings.

2 beats
  1. contkɑnstress
  2. racttɹækt
IPA (American)
/ˈkɑnˌtɹækt/
IPA (British)
/kɒntɹakt/
Also accepted
/kənˈtɹækt/
Respelling
KAHN-trakt
Syllables
2 — CONT-ract
Stress
Stress the first syllable: CONT-ract. “cont” is longer, louder and a step higher; the other syllable falls away from it.
Part of speech
noun, verb
Difficulty
Beginner — most learners get this on the first take
Accents

American and British are not the same here

American

/ˈkɑnˌtɹækt/

British

/kɒntɹakt/

No audio here: sayit’s voice is American, so a British button would play the American word. Read the transcription instead.

Meaning

What “contract” means

  1. noun

    a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law

  2. noun

    (contract bridge) the highest bid becomes the contract setting the number of tricks that the bidder must make

  3. noun

    a variety of bridge in which the bidder receives points toward game only for the number of tricks he bid

Say it in a sentence

“The contract runs for two years with an option to extend.”
Sound by sound

The sounds inside this word

6 sounds, in the order you say them
kk×2ɑahnntt×2ɹræshort a

Each sound has its own page: where the tongue goes, what it is usually confused with, and words to drill it on.

Questions

“contract”, answered

How do you pronounce “contract”?

“contract” is pronounced /ˈkɑnˌtɹækt/ (KAHN-trakt) in American English and /kɒntɹakt/ in British English, and /kənˈtɹækt/ is also accepted — 2 syllables, stressed on “cont”. Build it as CONT-ract, then run the first syllable a little longer than the rest and let the others reduce.

How many syllables does “contract” have?

2: cont · ract. The beat lands on the first, “cont”.

Is “contract” said differently in British English?

Yes. American English says /ˈkɑnˌtɹækt/ (KAHN-trakt); British English says /kɒntɹakt/. Both are correct — choose the accent you are learning and stay inside it.

What does “contract” mean?

As a noun: a binding agreement between two or more persons that is enforceable by law For example: “The contract runs for two years with an option to extend.” It carries 2 other senses as well — all of them said the same way.

Where is the stress in “contract”?

Stress the first syllable: CONT-ract. “cont” is longer, louder and a step higher; the other syllable falls away from it.

Practise this word

Now say “contract” and see every sound

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