2 syllables: Mo, ment. Stress on Mo.
MOH-muhnt
/ˈmoʊmənt/
Moment is pronounced MOH-muhnt (/ˈmoʊmənt/). It has two syllables (Mo-ment), with the stress on "Mo". Moment (noun): a brief point in time or a particular instance, often signaling a significance or turning point. It can also refer to a moment of experience or attention, captured as a short duration in which something happens. The term emphasizes immediacy and concreteness, contrasting with longer periods or abstractions.
nounMoment (noun): a brief point in time or a particular instance, often signaling a significance or turning point. It can also refer to a moment of experience or attention, captured as a short duration in which something happens. The term emphasizes immediacy and concreteness, contrasting with longer periods or abstractions.
"In that moment, she realized the mistake and paused."
"The photo captured a precious moment with her family."
"Give me a moment to think before answering."
Pronounce it as /ˈmoʊ.mənt/ in US English, with main stress on the first syllable. The first syllable 'mo' rhymes with 'go' or 'flow', using a diphthong /oʊ/. The second syllable is a schwa + nt or a brief /mənt/; ensure the 'm' is clearly released and the 't' lands crisply. In careful speech, you’ll hear a clear /ə/ before the /nt/, so not a full 'ment' but 'muh-nt'. For UK/AU, it’s /ˈməʊ.mənt/ with /əʊ/ in the first syllable and a similar reduced second syllable. Audio reference: you can listen to native pronunciations on Pronounce or Forvo for confirmation.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing primary stress on the second syllable; (2) Cutting the second syllable too short, producing /ˈmoʊnt/ or a silent /ə/; (3) Using a full 'ment' as /mɛnt/ or /mɛmənt/. Correction: keep primary stress on the first syllable /ˈmoʊ/ (US) or /ˈməʊ/ (UK/AU) and release a light /mənt/ in the second syllable, with a clear /ə/ before /nt/. Practice by saying 'MO-flow, MO-ment' with distinct finishes on both parts, then gradually compress the first vowel if you’re speaking quickly.
US: /ˈmoʊ.mənt/, rhotic /r/ not present; strong /oʊ/ in first syllable; second syllable reduced. UK/AU: /ˈməʊ.mənt/ with /əʊ/ in first syllable; non-rhotic accents may drop postvocalic r but keep /t/ clear. AU often features a slightly flatter /ə/ and less pronounced diphthong shifting in connected speech. Across all, the second syllable remains /mənt/; differences lie mainly in vowel quality and the length of the first vowel.
Because the first syllable uses a diphthong that shifts quickly in fast speech and the second syllable requires a precise schwa-neutralized vowel before a final /nt/. The /ˈmoʊ/ vs /ˈməʊ/ energy in fast conversation can blur into /ˈmoʊnt/ when you reduce the second syllable or merge sounds. Practicing with minimal pairs and slow pacing helps you segment the two parts, keeping the primary stress stable and ensuring the /nt/ release is clean.
In standard pronunciation, the first syllable carries primary stress with a long vowel sound: US /ˈmoʊ.mənt/ and UK/AU /ˈməʊ.mənt/. The first vowel is a stressed diphthong (oʊ or oʊ-like). The second syllable uses a reduced vowel /ə/ (schwa) before the /nt/. In careful speech, you’ll hear a crisp /m/-/ənt/ ending; in fast speech, the vowel can reduce further, but the stress remains on the first syllable.
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Moment derives from the Old French moment or late Latin momentum, stemming from the Latin momentum meaning 'movement, impetus, urgency'; from movere, 'to move'. In Latin, momentum signified movement or impetus and evolved to mean a measure of time in certain contexts due to the sense of a shifting or passing instant. The English adoption in Middle English retained the sense of a brief point in time; by the 15th century it was well-established as a determiner of a specific instant, often used in both literal and figurative senses. Over time, the word broadened to include metaphorical moments of opportunity, importance, or significance, as well as common expressions like 'moment of truth' and 'in the moment'. The phonetic form stabilized to /ˈmoʊ.mənt/ in General American and /ˈməʊ.mənt/ in many British accents, with minor regional adjustments in vowel quality and rhoticity influenced by accent variation and language contact. First known use in English appears in the late 14th to early 15th century literature, aligning with the period when legal and temporal language started to standardize around specific instants or events rather than long durations.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Moment" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Moment" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Moment"
-ent sounds
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