2 syllables: Bla, tant. Stress on Bla.
BLAY-tuhnt
/ˈbleɪtənt/
Blatant is pronounced BLAY-tuhnt (/ˈbleɪtənt/). It has two syllables (Bla-tant), with the stress on "Bla". Blatant is an adjective meaning completely obvious or conspicuously offensive, often in a bold or unashamed way. It typically describes actions or behavior that are so obvious they invite attention or criticism, without subtlety. The term carries a slightly negative or accusatory tone and is frequently used in formal or semi-formal critique as well as everyday speech.
adjectiveBlatant is an adjective meaning completely obvious or conspicuously offensive, often in a bold or unashamed way. It typically describes actions or behavior that are so obvious they invite attention or criticism, without subtlety. The term carries a slightly negative or accusatory tone and is frequently used in formal or semi-formal critique as well as everyday speech.
- You may over-attenuate the final /nt/, turning it into /n/ or a soft /t/; ensure a crisp, audible /nt/ with a light release. - Misplacing the primary stress on the second syllable or flattening the /eɪ/ into /e/; keep /bleɪ/ as a tense, clear glide. - Vowel reduction errors in /tə/; avoid a full /tuh/ sound—aim for a quick, neutral schwa-like /ə/ or a lax /ɪ/ depending on pace. - Slurring the consonants into one syllable in rapid speech; practice slower with deliberate articulation before increasing speed.
How to Pronounce Blatant
"Her blatant disregard for safety put everyone at risk."
"The corporation faced backlash for blatantly ignoring environmental standards."
"He gave a blatant lie to avoid accountability."
Blatant is pronounced with the primary stress on the first syllable: /ˈbleɪ.tənt/. Start with the long A sound as in 'blade' for /bleɪ/, then a schwa-like middle /tə/, and finish with /nt/. For reference, you can listen to native usage on Pronounce or Forvo, and mirror the cadence of a sharp, assertive adjective.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (e.g., saying /ˈblæ.tənt/ like 'blatten'), shortening the middle vowel to a too-strong /ɪ/ or /ə/ without reduction, and slurring the final /t/ into /d/ in rapid speech. Correct by keeping /bleɪ/ as a clear bigram, using a quick, relaxed /tə/ with a light schwa, and releasing the final /nt/ crisply. Practice with slow repeats and minimal pairs to anchor the correct rhythm.
In US/UK/AU, the initiation /ˈbleɪ/ is consistent, but vowel quality in the following syllable may vary: US often has a slightly more rhotic, crisper /t/ release, UK may display a softer /t/ with less aspiration, and AU can have a subtly broader vowel before the nasal, with a lighter /t/ closure. Overall, the main distinction is rhythm and consonant clarity rather than a different vowel phoneme. IPA remains /ˈbleɪ.tənt/ across accents.
The challenge lies in the fast, crisp /bleɪ/ leading into a quick, unstressed /tə/ and a clean /nt/ release. The sequence demands precise tongue placement for /bleɪ/ (blade-like /b/, rounded /l/, diphthong /eɪ/), followed by a neutral vowel in /tə/ and an audible /nt/ without nasalization. People often gloss over the /t/ or merge the /t/ and /n/ in connected speech, making it sound like /ˈbleɪdən/. Maintaining a separable final /t/ and /n/ is key.
The primary challenge is maintaining two strong consonant boundaries in rapid speech: the end of /bleɪ/ and the onset of /tə/. You should articulate /t/ distinctly before the nasal /n/ to avoid a blended /nt/ that can dull the word’s crispness. Visualize a short, sharp stop between the two, and practice with slow tempo to lock in the rhythm, then speed up while preserving clarity.
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- US: emphasize rhotic influence; keep /ɹ/ neutral or slightly lowered before vowels; ensure crisp /t/ release before the nasal /n/. - UK: often a non-rhotic variant; focus on a slightly tighter mouth posture and a crisper /t/. - AU: tends to have a more open vowel before /nt/, with a quick, light /t/ and often less emphasis on the final nasal; maintain the same 2-syllable rhythm while ensuring the final /nt/ is audible.
Blatant originates from the Old French blatant, meaning ‘bleating’ or ‘whistling loud,’ from the verb blat and the proto-Germanic root blait- meaning ‘to wail or shout.’ The sense began in Middle English with imagery of loud, ostentatious sound or action; later its usage broadened to describe behaviors that are loud in a figurative sense—unmistakable, conspicuously obvious. The modern sense—undisguised, brazen—emerged in the 17th–18th centuries as rhetoric and moral critique intensified in political and social discourse. Early writers used blatancy to emphasize not just noise, but inappropriate or shameless display, and by the 19th century the word commonly described actions, statements, or appearances that could not be missed or ignored. The word has retained a consistent negative valence across eras, with modern usage frequently targeting media, politics, and corporate behavior where insufficient subtlety is evident.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Blatant" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Blatant" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Blatant"
-int sounds
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