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Pronunciation Lessons

When Do You Say CON-tract?

When Do You Say CON-tract?

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Did you know that you will pronounce this word differently depending on how it is used in various contexts?

As a noun, it should be pronounced as ‘CON-tract’. The stress is on the first syllable.

But as a verb, it is read as ‘cuhn-TRACT’. The first syllable is shortened to ‘cuhn’, with the main stress on the second syllable ‘TRACT’.

(Contract as a Noun) The company signed a multi-million-dollar ‘CONtract’ to develop the integrated resort in Sentosa.
(Contract as a Verb) The company was contracted (cuhn-TRACTed) to develop the integrated resort in Sentosa.

Listen to this podcast to get the pronunciation right.

Source: Edited from the english@work e-newsletter by 938LIVE. Subscribe to the english@work newsletter.