2 syllables: con, tain. Stress on tain.
kuhn-TAYN
/kəˈnteɪn/
contain is pronounced kuhn-TAYN (/kəˈnteɪn/). It has two syllables (con-tain), with the stress on "tain". Contain means to hold, include, or restrain something within limits or boundaries. It can describe physical containment, like an object inside a container, or abstract restraint, such as containing emotions or a situation. In linguistics, it also appears as a verb form that governs tense and aspect in sentences. The word functions across diverse contexts, often implying boundary maintenance or limitation.
Contain means to hold, include, or restrain something within limits or boundaries. It can describe physical containment, like an object inside a container, or abstract restraint, such as containing emotions or a situation. In linguistics, it also appears as a verb form that governs tense and aspect in sentences. The word functions across diverse contexts, often implying boundary maintenance or limitation.
"Please contain the spill to prevent damage."
"The box contains all the supplies you’ll need."
"We must contain the spread of the fire to nearby areas."
Say /kənˈteɪn/ with primary stress on the second syllable. Start with a schwa in the first syllable, glide into /ˈteɪn/ via an unstressed sequence, and finish crisp with a clear /n/. Listen for the distinct 'tein' vowel: the /eɪ/ diphthong approximates the 'ay' sound in 'day.' If you need a model, compare to 'explain' without changing the final consonant. IPA: US/UK: /kənˈteɪn/; AU mirrors /kənˈteɪn/.
Two frequent errors: (1) misplacing the stressed syllable, saying /ˈkənˌteɪn/ with incorrect primary stress on the first syllable; (2) pronouncing /teɪn/ as a pure /tiːn/ or mispronouncing the /ə/ as a full schwa. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable /kənˈteɪn/, reduce the first syllable to a quick schwa /kən/ and ensure the /eɪ/ is a tight diphthong. Practice by isolating /kən/ and /teɪn/ separately, then blend them.
In US, UK, and AU, the core /kənˈteɪn/ remains, but the vowel quality of /ə/ and the rhoticity of /r/ can shift. US speakers are rhotic, often producing a louder /r/ in connected speech; the /ə/ in /kən/ remains a weak schwa. UK tends to a more clipped /ə/ and less rhoticity in careful speech, though some regional accents reduce rhotics. Australian English maintains /kənˈteɪn/ with a broad, centralized /ə/ and nonrhotic tendencies in many dialects. Overall, the main rhyming nucleus /eɪ/ stays consistent. IPA: /kənˈteɪn/ across variants.
The difficulty often lies in timing the two syllables and the /ə/ reduction in fast speech, plus the /eɪ/ diphthong that requires a precise glide from /e/ to /ɪ/ in some pronunciations. Beginners may misplace the primary stress or elongate the first syllable. A clear path is to practice the mini-pairs: /kən/ vs /kən/ leading into /teɪn/, focusing on the brief, unstressed first syllable and a tight, high-mid /eɪ/ glide. IPA guidance helps lock in accuracy.
A word-specific point is the strong contrast between the reduced initial syllable /kən/ and the prominent /teɪn/. The /t/ is alveolar and crisp; the /n/ at the end should be a clean nasal, not followed by a vowel in many contexts. Emphasize the boundary between /kən/ and /teɪn/ with a slight pause in careful speech, then blend in rapid connected speech for naturalness.
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Contain originates from Middle English containen, from Old French contenir, from Latin continere, meaning 'to hold together, preserve.' The Latin continere is composed of con- 'together' and tenere 'to hold.' Over the centuries, contain evolved from meaning to hold within physically to more abstract senses such as to restrain or to limit the spread or scope of something. The word appeared in English in technical and legal texts during the late Middle Ages, reflecting its use in describing containers and the act of keeping within bounds. By the 16th and 17th centuries, contain broadened to idiomatic uses such as 'to contain one's emotions' and 'to contain a situation' in both political and domestic discourse. Modern usage encompasses physical containment (in containers, boxes) and metaphorical containment (risks, emotions, outbreaks), with the core idea of keeping boundaries secure or ensuring something remains inside. The etymology traces a clear throughline from the Latin root to everyday English, preserving the gravity of holding or restraining that underpins the term.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "contain" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "contain" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "contain"
-ain sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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