How to pronounce “indict”
Indict is pronounced /ˌɪnˈdaɪt/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the second one — daɪt. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 2 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting daɪt in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern ōO — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “indict”
✗ Often said: /ˈɪndɪkt/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˌɪnˈdaɪt/
Why the two come apart: the stress lands on the second syllable (“daɪt”), not on the first one — putting the beat at the front is the mistake almost everyone makes; also, at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here; also, a consonant letter takes an unexpected sound value here, so reading it "as written" comes out wrong.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “indict” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“indict” sound by sound
“indict” is built out of 5 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
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nTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth, lower the soft palate, and voice the air out through the nose.
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dSame tongue position as /t/ — tip on the ridge behind the upper teeth — but voice the sound and release it without aspiration.
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aɪStart with the mouth open at an /a/-like position and glide up toward /ɪ/, closing the jaw as you go.
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tTouch the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the upper teeth, block the air, then release it with a puff.
Words that rhyme with “indict”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “indict”
Each of these differs from “indict” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “indict”
- How do you pronounce “indict”?
- “indict” is pronounced /ˌɪnˈdaɪt/, with the stress on the second syllable (daɪt). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “indict”?
- “indict” has 2 syllables: ɪn · daɪt. The stress pattern is ōO.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “indict”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈɪndɪkt/, but it is actually /ˌɪnˈdaɪt/, because the stress lands on the second syllable (“daɪt”), not on the first one — putting the beat at the front is the mistake almost everyone makes.
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