How to Pronounce Hesitant

To pronounce "hesitant", say HES-it-ant — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈhɛzɪtənt/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

hesitant

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

If an accent sounds the same, your device is missing that voice — it falls back to the closest one.

Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

Record yourself saying hesitant, then compare with the target. Your audio stays on this device — nothing is uploaded.

3

Syllables

8

Letters

/ˈhɛzɪtənt/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “hesitant”

"hesitant" has 3 syllables: hes-it-ant.

What does hesitant mean?

adjective

  1. Tending to hesitate, wait, or proceed with caution or reservation.

    “I am hesitant to recommend him as a manager because he has a short temper.”

Hear “hesitant” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Related words

hesitatingindecisiveirresoluteuncertainincertainunsuregropinghalting

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "hesitant"?▾

"Hesitant" has 3 syllables: hes · it · ant.

What is the IPA transcription of "hesitant"?▾

The IPA transcription of "hesitant" is /ˈhɛzɪtənt/.

What does "hesitant" mean?▾

Hesitant: Tending to hesitate, wait, or proceed with caution or reservation.

Want the definition, translations into 8 languages, and read-aloud for full sentences?

Open “hesitant” in the full dictionary →