How to pronounce “statement”
Statement is pronounced /ˈsteɪtmənt/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the first one — steɪt. 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 steɪt in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern Oo — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
The common mispronunciation of “statement”
✗ Often said: /ˈstætement/ — the spelling, read straight off the page.
✓ Actually: /ˈsteɪtmənt/
Why the two come apart: the unstressed vowels flatten all the way down to /ə/ — English swallows them, so they never sound the way they are written; also, at least one vowel does not say what its spelling suggests — English vowel letters are not reliable here.
This is why reading English aloud from spelling alone goes wrong so often: the letters of “statement” are not a reliable map of its sounds. The IPA is — each symbol stands for exactly one sound, every time.
“statement” sound by sound
“statement” is built out of 8 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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sHold the tongue tip near (not touching) the ridge behind the upper teeth and force a narrow stream of air down the groove of the tongue.
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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.
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eɪStart at the /e/ position and glide upward and forward toward /ɪ/ — the jaw closes as you say it.
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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.
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mClose the lips, lower the soft palate and let the voiced air come out through the nose.
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əDo almost nothing: leave the tongue in its neutral resting position, mouth slightly open, and make the shortest, weakest possible vowel.
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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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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 “statement”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Questions people ask about “statement”
- How do you pronounce “statement”?
- “statement” is pronounced /ˈsteɪtmənt/, with the stress on the first syllable (steɪt). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “statement”?
- “statement” has 2 syllables: steɪt · mənt. The stress pattern is Oo.
- What is the common mispronunciation of “statement”?
- People read it off the spelling as /ˈstætement/, but it is actually /ˈsteɪtmənt/, because the unstressed vowels flatten all the way down to /ə/ — English swallows them, so they never sound the way they are written.
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