English pronunciation · Words Starting with D

Diligent Pronunciation

Diligent is pronounced DI-li-juhnt, IPA /ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/.

DI-li-juhnt

US /ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/  ·  UK /ˈdɪlɪdʒənt/

Syllables: DI · li · juhnt (3 syllables, stress on syllable 1)

adjective: Careful and steady in doing your work.

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Diligent in a Sentence

  • She was diligent about backing up her files every evening.
  • A diligent search of the archive turned up the missing letter.
  • He is diligent, which is why the team trusts his numbers.

Common Mispronunciations of Diligent

Not DY-li-juhnt

Clip that opening vowel. Two consonants follow the i, so it stays short like the i of dip rather than stretching into the long i of dye.

Not DI-li-gent

The g before e is soft. It comes out as the j of jam, so the ending is juhnt and not a hard gent.

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