English pronunciation · Words Starting with S
Savant Pronunciation
Savant is pronounced suh-VAHNT, IPA /səˈvɑnt/.
suh-VAHNT
US /səˈvɑnt/ · UK /ˈsævənt/
Syllables: suh · VAHNT (2 syllables, stress on syllable 2)
noun: A person of deep learning, or someone with extraordinary ability in one narrow area.
Audio for the American and British pronunciations plays on this page with JavaScript enabled.
Savant in a Sentence
- The film is loosely based on a real savant.
- He is a savant when it comes to train timetables.
- Eighteenth century savants corresponded across Europe.
Common Mispronunciations of Savant
Not SA-vuhnt
American speakers push the beat to the end and open the vowel to ah, giving suh-VAHNT. The front stressed version is the British reading.
Not suh-VANT
That stressed a is the broad ah of calm, not the flat a of ant, which is what keeps the French shape of the word audible.
Tip: Both suh-VAHNT and SAV-uhnt are standard. The first is usual in America, the second in Britain.
More words starting with s · Every word in the pronunciation guide