2 syllables: Ca, det. Stress on det.
kuh-DET
/kəˈdɛt/
Cadet is pronounced kuh-DET (/kəˈdɛt/). It has two syllables (Ca-det), with the stress on "det". Cadet is a noun referring to a trainee or young student in the armed services, police, or fire-fighting academy, or to a junior member in a youth organization. It can denote a person in training for a particular role, often in a formal or hierarchical setting. The term emphasizes status, rank, or aspirational progression within a disciplined environment.
nounCadet is a noun referring to a trainee or young student in the armed services, police, or fire-fighting academy, or to a junior member in a youth organization. It can denote a person in training for a particular role, often in a formal or hierarchical setting. The term emphasizes status, rank, or aspirational progression within a disciplined environment.
- You might turn the vowel in the first syllable into a shorter /e/ or /ɛ/ instead of the diphthong /eɪ/. Aim for a distinct /eɪ/ diphthong that starts near /e/ and glides to /ɪ/. - Some learners compress the two consonants (/d/ and /t/) into a single flap or skip the /t/, which makes the ending sound incomplete. Practice releasing /t/ clearly with a light aspirated finish. - Forgetting primary stress on the first syllable is common in rapid speech; you’ll hear /ˈke.dɪt/ or /keɪˈdɛt/. Drill the sequence with markings showing stressed syllable and equal timing.
How to Pronounce Cadet
"The cadet spent the afternoon drilling with the platoon."
"She was accepted into the police academy as a cadet last summer."
"As a cadet, he wears a uniform that marks his position among the trainees."
Cadet is pronounced with two syllables: /ˈkeɪ.dɪt/. The primary stress falls on the first syllable. Start with a long A as in cake (/eɪ/), then lightly release the /d/ and follow with a short, crisp /ɪ/ and a final /t/. You can listen to native pronunciations on Pronounce, Forvo, or YouGlish for quick audio reference.
Common mistakes include softening or eliding the /d/ so it sounds like /ˈkeɪɪt/ or dropping the final /t/ to /ˈkeɪ.dɪ/ when speech slows. Another error is misplacing stress, saying /ˈkeɪ.dɪt/ with emphasis on the second syllable. To correct: ensure /d/ is a distinct alveolar stop, keep /eɪ/ as a single diphthong, and finish with a crisp /t/. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘cadet’ vs ‘cave it’ to reinforce the ending.”,
In US/UK/AU, the vowels are similar: /ˈkeɪ.dɪt/. Rhotic differences don’t affect cadet since there’s no post-vocalic r. The main variation is in vowel quality of /eɪ/ and the laxness of /ɪ/ depending on rapid speech. Australians may have slightly longer vowel timing and a more centralized /ɪ/ in casual speech, but the core two-syllable rhythm remains consistent across accents.
The challenge lies in producing a clean, distinct /d/ between two vowels and maintaining a crisp final /t/ without a muffled release. Some speakers lengthen the first vowel or confuse it with /e/ or /a/. The quick transition from /eɪ/ to /dɪ/ requires precise tongue position: the blade of the tongue contacts the alveolar ridge for /d/ and immediately moves to a light /t/ release. Focus on tongue elevation and staccato endpoint.
Cadet has primary stress on the first syllable: CA-det. The second syllable is unstressed but clearly articulated to avoid truncation. Pronunciation should keep a clean, even tempo between syllables: /ˈkeɪ.dɪt/. This helps prevent the common slip where the second syllable's vowel is reduced too much or the /d/ and /t/ run together in rapid speech.
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- US: clear rhoticity isn’t relevant here; maintain a crisp /ˈkeɪ.dɪt/ with a strong onset and distinct /d/ and /t/. - UK: similar two-syllable pattern; ensure non-rhotacized or slightly clipped /t/ at the end depending on pace. - AU: may show slight vowel lengthening in /eɪ/ and a softer /t/ in fast speech; keep aspiration on /t/ to avoid a glottal stop in casual speech.
Cadet comes to English from French cadet, which originally meant a young man of noble birth or a male descendant in a noble family. The French term itself derives from late Latin calfus (youth) or possibly from cadere (to fall) through a diminutive or pejorative development; however, the precise lineage is debated among etymologists. In English, cadet first appeared in the 1570s to describe a young nobleman in training for military service, gradually shifting to a general designation for a trainee or junior member in various service academies. By the 18th and 19th centuries, cadet broadened to non-military organizations (e.g., police academies, youth corps) while retaining connotations of discipline, training, and aim toward a future role of responsibility. The word’s usage remains closely tied to structured institutions where rank, mentorship, and progression are central themes. Today, cadet communicates both a specific status within a program and a broader sense of “aspiring professional in training.”
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Words that rhyme with "Cadet"
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