Heteronym

How do you pronounce "content"?

"Content" has two different pronunciations with two different meanings. Say KON-tent when it means what's inside something (noun), and kun-TENT when it means satisfied (adjective). Which one is correct depends entirely on the sentence.

Hear both pronunciations

noun

KON-tent

what's inside something

Check the content of the box.

adjective

kun-TENT

satisfied

She felt content with her work.

Each button speaks the respelling, not the spelling — otherwise the speech engine would pick a single default pronunciation for both senses.

Side by side

PronunciationPart of speechMeaning
KON-tentnounwhat's inside something
kun-TENTadjectivesatisfied

Frequently asked questions

How do you pronounce "content"?

"Content" has two different pronunciations with two different meanings. Say KON-tent when it means what's inside something (noun), and kun-TENT when it means satisfied (adjective). Which one is correct depends entirely on the sentence.

What does "content" mean when it is pronounced KON-tent?

Pronounced KON-tent, "content" is a noun meaning what's inside something. For example: "Check the content of the box."

What does "content" mean when it is pronounced kun-TENT?

Pronounced kun-TENT, "content" is a adjective meaning satisfied. For example: "She felt content with her work."

Why does "content" have two pronunciations?

"Content" is a heteronym: two distinct words that happen to be spelled the same way. English spelling did not standardise around pronunciation, so unrelated words sometimes converged on one spelling while keeping separate sounds.

More heteronyms

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See the full entry for “content, browse all 76 heteronyms and stress pairs, or learn how English stress works.