How to Pronounce "pretence"
The correct pronunciation of "pretence" is pri-TENCE /prɪˈtens/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "PRE-tence" habit for good.
pretence
/prɪˈtens/An act of pretending; a false show of something.
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Record yourself saying “pretence” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "PRE-tence" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying 'PRE-tence' with the stress on the first syllable. | pri-TENCE /prɪˈtens/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | Second syllable (TENCE). |
How Do You Pronounce "pretence"?
"pretence" is pronounced pri-TENCE /prɪˈtens/. The stress is on the second syllable (TENCE). As a noun, it means an act of pretending; a false show of something.
In British and Indian-taught English the stress is on the SECOND syllable, TENCE — not on 'PRE' at the front.
Note: The US spelling is 'pretense' and is often front-stressed /ˈpriːtens/ ("PREE-tense"); standard British and Indian-taught English use second-syllable pri-TENCE.
Say "pretence" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
pri-TENCE — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
Second syllable (TENCE). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
In British and Indian-taught English the stress is on the SECOND syllable, TENCE — not on 'PRE' at the front.
Blend and repeat
Now say "pretence" at normal speed: pri-TENCE. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "pretence" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
TENSE → pri-TENCE
End on a stressed 'TENCE', like the sound of 'tense'.
NOT PRE-tence — pri-TENCE
The first beat stays soft; TENCE is the loud one.
Say at speed: "She dropped the pretence of politeness."
Keep the stress on TENCE mid-sentence.
Why "pretence" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
Indian English front-loads the word, resting the beat on the visible first chunk 'PRE'.
Tip: Push the weight to the second beat: pri-TENCE.
Hear “pretence” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
She dropped the pretence of politeness.
It was all a pretence.
He entered under false pretence.
Now say it inside a sentence
Getting "pretence" right on its own is the easy part. Pronunciation only sticks in connected speech. Read a passage aloud and get scored on accuracy and pace, word by word — free, no login.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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