2 syllables: de, tain. Stress on tain.
/dɪˈteɪn/
Say it backDetain means to keep someone in official custody or under restraint, or to hinder someone or something from proceeding. It often implies a temporary hold for questioning, processing, or safety, rather than a permanent detention. The term can also be used more broadly to refer to delaying progress or movement.
"The police may detain a suspect for questioning after the incident."
"Construction delays detained the delivery of essential supplies."
"The customs officers detained her for a routine check."
Pronounce as /dɪˈteɪn/. The first syllable is /dɪ/ (short “i” as in “kit”), and the stressed second syllable is /teɪn/ with a long vowel sound like “they” and a final nasal /n/. Think: di-TAYN. Mouth positions: start with a light /d/ stop, quickly move to a tense /ɪ/ before the stressed /teɪn/ sequence, then finish with a touch of /n/. Audio references: //you can consult Cambridge, Oxford, or Forvo entries for /dɪˈteɪn/.
Common mistakes include misplacing the stress (say /ˈdeɪtən/ by stressing the first syllable), mispronouncing the long vowel as a short /e/ or /ə/ in /teɪn/, and omitting the final /n/. Correction tips: emphasize the second syllable with a clear /eɪ/ diphthong and finish with a crisp /n/; keep the /ɪ/ in the first syllable short and quick, not a full vowel. Practice saying di-TAYN slowly, then accelerates while maintaining the /ɪ/ and final /n/.
In US/UK/AU, /dɪˈteɪn/ is broadly similar, with slight vowel quality differences: US /ɪ/ in the first syllable might be a bit laxer in fast speech, while UK and AU can show a slightly tighter /ɪ/ and a crisp /eɪ/ in the stressed second syllable. AU may exhibit a more centralized /ə/ in casual speech, but the primary rhyme /teɪn/ remains consistent. Overall, rhoticity does not alter the detain pronunciation significantly.
The difficulty centers on the vowel quality and the precise diphthong in the second syllable. The /ɪ/ in the first syllable is short and quick, while the /eɪ/ requires a smooth glide from /e/ to /ɪ/ or /ɪə/ depending on speaker. Keeping the /n/ crisp after the diphthong can be challenging in connected speech, making detain feel slippery in fast talk. Practice slow, then speed up while preserving the diphthong and final nasal.
A unique question for detain is: Does the first syllable ever reduce to /də/ in rapid speech? Answer: In careful speech, /dɪ/ is typical, but in very fast, casual speech some speakers may reduce to a schwa-like /də/ or /dəː/ before the stressed /teɪn/. The dominant form remains /dɪˈteɪn/ in careful speech, and reduced forms appear mainly in informal, fluent dialogue.
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Detain derives from the Middle English detenen, from Old French detenir, formed from de- (a prefix implying removal or negation) plus tenir (to hold). The root tenir traces to Latin tenere, meaning to hold. The word in English first appears in the late 15th century with legal and custodial senses, evolving from “to hold back, restrain, or keep in custody” toward broader meanings of delaying or preventing movement. Over time, detain has retained its essence of temporary restraint, distinguishing it from longer-term confinement implied by imprisonment. In modern usage, detain frequently appears in law enforcement, border control, and administrative contexts, with nuance depending on jurisdiction. The semantic field has expanded to include causing a delay or interruption in progression (e.g., detaining a shipment or a meeting). The phrase “detain for questioning” emphasizes non-punitive restraint, whereas “detain for examination” underscores procedural hold. First known usage appears in legal texts from the late 1400s, aligning with the development of formal detention practices in medieval legal systems.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "detain" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "detain"
-ain sounds
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