3 syllables: Ar, gen, tine. Stress on Ar.
AHR-juhn-teen
/ˈɑɹdʒəˌntin/
Argentine is pronounced AHR-juhn-teen (/ˈɑɹdʒəˌntin/). It has three syllables (Ar-gen-tine), with the stress on "Ar". Argentine is an adjective relating to Argentina, its people, culture, or language. It is used especially to describe things associated with Argentina in politics, cuisine, and art, or to denote the distinctive variant of Spanish spoken there. In broader context, it also appears as a demonym for people from Argentina. The pronunciation changes slightly with regional accents and can also function as a noun in some contexts (Argentines).
adjectiveArgentine is an adjective relating to Argentina, its people, culture, or language. It is used especially to describe things associated with Argentina in politics, cuisine, and art, or to denote the distinctive variant of Spanish spoken there. In broader context, it also appears as a demonym for people from Argentina. The pronunciation changes slightly with regional accents and can also function as a noun in some contexts (Argentines).
- You may overly reduce the middle syllable, producing ar-jen-tine with a weak /ən/. Fix by sharpening the middle /ən/ with a light schwa and a clean onset to -tiːn. - Do not confuse the final -tine with -teen; ensure a crisp /tiːn/ rather than a trailing /tɪən/. - Some speakers misposition the tongue for /dʒ/ at the start, producing a hard 'g' or a silent initial. Practice the /dʒ/ blend by starting with /d/ then quickly glide to /ʒ/ without an abrupt stop.
Tips: practice with minimal pairs focusing on middle syllable clarity, use a light jaw drop before the final /tiːn/ to ensure a clean vowel, and avoid rounding the first syllable too much—keep it open.
"Argentine beef is famed for its flavor and tenderness."
"She collects Argentine Tango records for her collection."
"The Argentine government announced new economic reforms."
US/UK/AU pronunciation centers on three syllables: ar-jən-tine or ar-jen-TEEN, depending on accent. IPA: US/UK: /ˌɑːrdʒənˈtiːn/ or /ˌɑːrdʒɪnˈtiːn/, AU: /ˌɑːːdʒənˈtiːən/. Stress typically falls on the second or third syllable: ar-JEN-tine. Practice by isolating the middle -jen-/-jen- and ensuring the final -teen is clearly enunciated. For audio reference, you can compare with native speaker samples on pronunciation platforms.
Common errors include misplacing stress on the first syllable (AR-ji-nteen), pronouncing -rine as -reen, and flattening the middle syllable. Correct by stressing the second syllable: ar-JEN-tine, and ensuring the final -tine is a clean, long -teen with a clear /iːn/ ending. Keep the initial /ˈɑːrdʒ-/ cluster smooth, avoiding an overly rolled or trilled start unless mimicking a Spanish-influenced pronunciation.
US tends to pronounce as ar-JEN-tine with clear /ˌɑːrdʒənˈtiːn/ and less vowel rounding on the first syllable. UK often emphasizes the second syllable more and may use /ˌɑːdʒənˈtiːn/ with a slightly rounded /ɜː/ for the middle vowel. Australian tends to be flatter and more clipped in the first syllable, with clear /ˈɑːdʒənˌtiːn/. All keep the final /tiːn/ but vowel qualities vary (more centralized in UK, broader in US).
The difficulty lies in the /ˈɑːrdʒən/ cluster at the start and the -tine ending, which in English can shift stress and lead to mispronouncing as 'Argen-teen' or 'Arg-en-TAIN.' The /dʒ/ sound blends into a classic English affricate before a stressed syllable; keep the /ɪn/ ending light and quick to avoid a drawn-out final sound. Pay attention to the middle /ən/ schwa or reduced vowel depending on accent.
Is the /dʒ/ sound in the start actually a 'j' sound in Argentine pronunciation as in Spanish, or is it the English /dʒ/? In English, the initial 'Ar' is typically /ˈɑːrdʒ/ where /dʒ/ approximates the Spanish 'g' in 'Argentina' influenced cluster, but English speakers can feel the tilt toward /ˈɑːrdʒənˌtiːn/. The middle vowel can be reduced to /ə/ or kept closer to /ɪ/ depending on the speaker, so aim for a crisp, non-reduced /ən/.
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- US: maintain open vowel in the first syllable; /ˈɑːrdʒənˌtiːn/ with stress on the second syllable. - UK: may reduce rhoticity, e.g., /ˌɑːdʒənˈtiːn/ with a slightly shorter first vowel and crisper /dʒ/. - AU: tends to be flatter and less rhotic; keep /ˈɑːdʒənˌtiːn/ with a flatter /ə/ in the middle. In all: use IPA cues, keep /dʒ/ clear, and end with a long /iːn/. Also note: ensure the middle schwa is not dropped in US but can be reduced in casual UK/AU speech.
Argentine derives from Latin American Spanish Argentina, itself from the Latin argentum meaning silver, connected to the legend of the silver mountains and the River Plate region’s early colonial era. The term Argentine (adj.) emerged in English to describe things of or relating to Argentina. The root Argentina began appearing in the 16th–18th centuries, reflecting the land named for silver. The adjective Argentinian or Argentinean developed in English as variants, with usage preferences varying by region and period. The first English attestations of Argentina trace to early colonial writings and 18th-century exploration accounts, with the adjective Argentine becoming common in 19th-century texts as Argentina became a nation-state and its cultural identifiers were codified in dictionaries and political discourse. In modern usage, Argentine typically denotes national or cultural association, while Argentinian remains prevalent in many parts of the English-speaking world, although editorial guidance often prefers Argentine for formal contexts and Argentinian for more informal, colloquial, or regional usage. Both forms are understood in contemporary English, with subtle stylistic distinctions preferred by different editors and audiences.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Argentine" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Argentine"
-ine sounds
-ain sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
