2 syllables: in, tent. Stress on tent.
in-TENT
/ˌɪˈntɛnt/
intent is pronounced in-TENT (/ˌɪˈntɛnt/). It has two syllables (in-tent), with the stress on "tent". Intent is a noun or verb meaning deliberate purpose or to intend or plan to do something. It denotes motivation or aim behind actions, and in verb form it means to have a plan or purpose in mind. Contexts range from formal discussions of motives to everyday planning intentions. Usage often centers on future actions or aims rather than immediate outcomes.
Intent is a noun or verb meaning deliberate purpose or to intend or plan to do something. It denotes motivation or aim behind actions, and in verb form it means to have a plan or purpose in mind. Contexts range from formal discussions of motives to everyday planning intentions. Usage often centers on future actions or aims rather than immediate outcomes.
"- Her intent was clear: to finish the project before the deadline."
"- The suspect’s intent was to cause disruption, not merely to be present."
"- He intends to start his own business next year, and that’s his main intent."
Intent is pronounced with two syllables: in-TENT. The primary stress is on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU /ɪnˈtɛnt/. Start with a short, lax /ɪ/ as in kit, then crown the /t/ with a clean, unreleased end before the schwa-like or short /ɛ/ vowel leading to /nt/. Keep the tongue close to the alveolar ridge for the /n/ and /t/ transitions, and end with a crisp /t/ release. Practicing in a syllable-by-syllable way helps: /ɪn/ + /ˈtɛnt/. Audio reference: you can compare with dictionaries or pronunciation tools for the two-syllable exposure.
Common mistakes include: 1) Under-emphasizing the second syllable so it sounds like in-tent or in-TENT-uh; ensure you land the stress clearly on /ˈtɛnt/. 2) Merging /n/ and /t/ into a rapid /nt/ consonant cluster without a brief release, which can blur the final /t/; practice with a light aspirated release. 3) Using a lax vowel in the first syllable, like /ɪ/ instead of a slightly higher /ɪ/ or /i/ quality; aim for /ɪ/ with crisp onset. Corrections: isolate /ɪn/ then hold the /tɛnt/ with a firm but not explosive /t/ release, and practice with minimal pairs such as /ɪnˈtɛnt/ vs /ɪnˈtɛn/ to sharpen vowel accuracy.
Across accents, the core two-syllable shape /ɪnˈtɛnt/ remains, but vowel quality and rhoticity can shift. US and Canadian speakers typically maintain /ɪ/ in the first syllable and /ɛ/ in the second, with a clear rhotic-free non-r-colored vowel; UK RP tends toward a slightly fronted /ɪ/ and a more open /ɛ/ in stressed syllable, while Australian English often has a more centralized /ɪ/ and a less tense /ɛ/; final consonant consonant can be released or unreleased depending on formality and pace. Rhoticity is usually non-rhotic in UK and AU, so the final /r/ is not pronounced, while US may be rhotic in some dialects, though intent itself ends with /t/ and no /r/.
Because it relies on a tight, metered two-syllable rhythm with stress on the second syllable, you must coordinate a clear vowel shift from /ɪ/ to /ɛ/ and a precise alveolar /n/ to /t/ transition with a clean release. The challenge is twofold: maintaining crisp, separate syllables in rapid speech and avoiding vowel reduction in fast dialogue. Practically, you’ll hear peak energy on the /t/ in /ˈtɛnt/ and a light, smooth onset for /ɪn/. Practicing with minimal pairs and shadowing can help you lock the timing and articulation.
Is there a typical reduction or linking that affects the second syllable in casual speech, and how does it interact with following words? In everyday connected speech you may notice the /t/ in /ˈtɛnt/ blending with a following vowel, especially before vowels, which can produce a quick, almost dp-t sound. To keep clarity, practice isolating the second syllable as /ˈtɛnt/ and then rehearse phrase-level linking: intent to-, assert intent to-, etc., ensuring the /t/ remains a crisp stop.
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US vs UK vs AU - differences to notice: • Vowel height: US /ɪ/ often slightly higher than UK/AU; UK tends toward a slightly more centralized /ɪ/ in fast speech. • Second syllable: /tɛnt/ tends to be tenser in US; UK/AU may show a marginally more relaxed /ɛ/ due to vowel shifting and non-rhoticity. • Rhotics: US speakers often pronounce a rhotic /r/ in adjacent words, but not in intent itself; UK and AU are generally non-rhotic, so no /r/ after /tɛnt/. IPA anchors: US /ɪnˈtɛnt/, UK /ɪnˈtɛnt/, AU /ɪnˈtɛnt/. • Prosody: US speakers may give a more even duration to both syllables, UK tends to a slightly shorter first syllable; AU can exhibit more vowel centralization and less tense /t/ release in rapid speech. Use these cues to adjust your mouth shape and timing in each variant.
The word intent derives from the Latin intentus, meaning stretched toward, bent toward, or directed to. intentus comes from the verb intendere, a composite of in- (toward) and tendere (to stretch, to aim, or to extend). In Old French and Medieval Latin, the term evolved through legal and scholastic usage to mean a directive mental act—the act of aiming one’s mind toward a goal. In English, intent appeared in the 14th- to 15th-century period, often in legal or philosophical contexts to express the will or purpose behind an action. Over time, the sense broadened into everyday language to denote aim, motive, or objective, and the noun and verb forms solidified into the common modern distinctions: intent as a noun (purpose) and intend as a verb (to plan or mean). The word has retained its stability in meaning across legal, psychological, and everyday contexts, preserving the core idea of directed mental activity toward a goal. first known use in English can be traced to Middle English texts influenced by Latin via French legal vocabulary, with attested forms appearing in law and theology documents by the 1400s. The semantic trajectory emphasizes volition, direction, and planned outcome, rather than chance or randomness.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "intent" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "intent" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "intent"
-ent sounds
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