3 syllables: ev, i, dent. Stress on ev.
EV-uh-duhnt
/ˈɛvədənt/
evident is pronounced EV-uh-duhnt (/ˈɛvədənt/). It has three syllables (ev-i-dent), with the stress on "ev". Evident means clear or obvious to the mind or senses; easily perceived or understood. It describes something that is plainly seen, understood, or deduced, leaving little doubt about its truth or reality. The word emphasizes overt visibility or detectability in a given context, highlighting that evidence or facts make the point unmistakable.
Evident means clear or obvious to the mind or senses; easily perceived or understood. It describes something that is plainly seen, understood, or deduced, leaving little doubt about its truth or reality. The word emphasizes overt visibility or detectability in a given context, highlighting that evidence or facts make the point unmistakable.
"The leak was evident to anyone who inspected the room."
"Her nervousness was evident in her voice and trembling hands."
"The science was evident from the consistent test results across multiple trials."
Pronounce as /ˈɛvɪdənt/. Start with a strong first syllable stress on 'ev' (/ˈɛv/), a short ‘i’ in the second syllable (/ˈɪdə/), and end with a crisp /nt/ cluster. Tip: keep the tongue high for the first vowel, then relax for the mid vowel. Listen for a clean stop on the final /t/ so it doesn’t blend into the preceding /d/ or murmur as a ‘d’ sound. An audio reference is available on major dictionaries and pronunciation tools to hear the exact sequence.
Two frequent errors are misplacing the stress (like saying /ˈɛvɪdənt/ but with weak emphasis on the first syllable) and softening the final /t/ into a flap or a d-like sound (e.g., /ˈɛvɪdəɾ/). Another error is pronouncing the middle vowel as a long schwa or misplacing the /d/ as a dental or alveolar stop with poor release. To correct: emphasize the first syllable clearly, make a firm /t/ after the /d/, and keep the tongue ready to snap the final stop without voicing. Practicing with minimal pairs can help you tune the final consonant.
In US and UK, the primary stress remains on the first syllable, with /ˈɛvɪdənt/. In US, the /ɪ/ in the second syllable tends to be a shorter, more lax vowel, while UK speakers may have a slightly crisper /ɪ/ and a more pronounced /də/ before the final /nt/. Australian speakers typically maintain similar vowel qualities but may have a less pronounced rhotic influence, with a compact front vowel quality. Overall, the stiffness of the final /nt/ and the speed of the middle vowel change are the main surface differences.
The difficulty lies in sequencing a short, tense first syllable, a reduced but distinct middle vowel, and a final cluster /nt/. The 'ev' chunk requires a quick, tense vowel quality, while the /ɪ/ in the second syllable is brief and blends into the /d/ before the /nt/ stop. Many speakers flatten the /t/ or nasalize the ending, which muddies the final clarity. Focusing on crisp syllable separation, tongue positioning for the alveolar stop, and slow practice helps solidify accurate pronunciation.
A key feature is the crisp, unreleased-then-released final /t/ in careful speech, maintaining a clear /d/ before it. The contrast between the stressed first syllable /ˈɛv/ and the schwa-like influence in /ɪ/ helps the word stay precise in rapid speech. The transition from the alveolar nasal or stop position into the final /t/ can be subtle; practicing with syllable-by-syllable drills helps you keep the release clean and audible.
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The word evident derives from the Latin evident- (stem of evidens), from evidēre, meaning ‘to reveal, make clear, exhibit.’ Evidens comes from e- (variant of ex-, ‘out’) + vidēre ‘to see.’ In Latin, evidēre meant ‘to reveal, disclose, make manifest,’ and it found its way into English through Old French or directly via Latin scholarly usage. The form entered Middle English with senses aligned to ‘clearly visible or manifest.’ The core idea—something that can be seen out in the open, proven by perception—remains intact across centuries. The noun evidence shares a common root with evident in Latin-based inherited senses of ‘to bring to light’ or ‘to show clearly.’ Over time, evident broadened to describe not only physical visibility but also cognitive clarity: something that is evident is readily perceived or understood, not merely seen. In modern usage, evident often coexists with evidence as a noun, but the adjective emphasis remains on the obviousness of a state, condition, or conclusion in discourse and argument. The first known English uses appeared in texts discussing visible or easily understood phenomena, often in legal or rhetorical contexts, where the visibility of facts warranted a conclusion without ambiguity.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "evident" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "evident" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "evident"
-ent sounds
-ant sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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