Are “confidant” and “confident” homophones?difference between /ts/ and /t/The difference between /ɪ/, /i/ , and /ə/Pronunciation of the diphthongs /aʊ/ as in “owl” and /aɪ/ as in “why”Exchanging TH (voiced) sound with D sound?how to link the /s/ and /j/ sound (IPA)?Learning correct pronunciation“Ball” and “bowl” do they really sound the same?Is there a difference between pronouncing [short u] and [long a] sounds?Why are double consonant ‘r’ sounds transcribed as a single phonetic soundAnyone succeeded to teach/recognize the difference in L and R listening wise?
Should I cheat if the majority does it?
PhD: When to quit and move on?
Convenience stores in India
How should I present a resort brochure in my general fiction?
How might boat designs change in order to allow them to be pulled by dragons?
What is exact meaning of “ich wäre gern”?
What is the difference between a historical drama and a period drama?
Why do Klingons use cloaking devices?
Do intermediate subdomains need to exist?
What is this arch-and-tower near a road?
Why did moving the mouse cursor cause Windows 95 to run more quickly?
How to travel between two stationary worlds in the least amount of time? (time dilation)
How would an Amulet of Proof Against Detection and Location interact with the Comprehend Languages spell?
Did Snape really give Umbridge a fake Veritaserum potion that Harry later pretended to drink?
What does the ash content of broken wheat really mean?
Was Wolfgang Unzicker the last Amateur GM?
Do the 26 richest billionaires own as much wealth as the poorest 3.8 billion people?
Should I warn my boss I might take sick leave
Why is there paternal, for fatherly, fraternal, for brotherly, but no similar word for sons?
Should I hide my travel history to the UK when I apply for an Australian visa?
What are the differences of checking a self-signed certificate vs ignore it?
Does Evolution Sage proliferate Blast Zone when played?
Explain how 'Sharing the burden' puzzle from Professor Layton and the Miracle Mask should be solved
Can 4 Joy cons connect to the same Switch?
Are “confidant” and “confident” homophones?
difference between /ts/ and /t/The difference between /ɪ/, /i/ , and /ə/Pronunciation of the diphthongs /aʊ/ as in “owl” and /aɪ/ as in “why”Exchanging TH (voiced) sound with D sound?how to link the /s/ and /j/ sound (IPA)?Learning correct pronunciation“Ball” and “bowl” do they really sound the same?Is there a difference between pronouncing [short u] and [long a] sounds?Why are double consonant ‘r’ sounds transcribed as a single phonetic soundAnyone succeeded to teach/recognize the difference in L and R listening wise?
.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;
Both sound like /-dənt/
to me.
Etymology:
confidant comes to English from the French word confident, and when the word first entered our language it was often spelled that way, rather than as confidant.
So they were actually the same word. Do we really need to tell a difference between them?
pronunciation etymology
add a comment |
Both sound like /-dənt/
to me.
Etymology:
confidant comes to English from the French word confident, and when the word first entered our language it was often spelled that way, rather than as confidant.
So they were actually the same word. Do we really need to tell a difference between them?
pronunciation etymology
add a comment |
Both sound like /-dənt/
to me.
Etymology:
confidant comes to English from the French word confident, and when the word first entered our language it was often spelled that way, rather than as confidant.
So they were actually the same word. Do we really need to tell a difference between them?
pronunciation etymology
Both sound like /-dənt/
to me.
Etymology:
confidant comes to English from the French word confident, and when the word first entered our language it was often spelled that way, rather than as confidant.
So they were actually the same word. Do we really need to tell a difference between them?
pronunciation etymology
pronunciation etymology
asked 8 hours ago
CykerCyker
4536 silver badges14 bronze badges
4536 silver badges14 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
I pronounce the two words differently. I happen to be a native speaker of American English whose father studied French extensively and whose mother taught French -- but I do not know French myself.
I pronounce "confident" as "CONfidint", much like jimbobmcgee's transcription.
I pronounce the last syllable of "confidant" the way I pronounce the first syllable of "Ontario", or the way some people pronounce "aunt". In other words, it rhymes with "want".
1
I agree, and in my BrE accent the stress in "confidant" leans to the end.
– Weather Vane
8 hours ago
@WeatherVane -- I place more stress on the last syllable of "confidant" than the last syllable of "confident", but I am not sure if it is more stress than on the first syllable.
– Jasper
7 hours ago
1
Yes, I put some stress on the first and last syllables of "confidant", but mostly on just the first syllable of "confident".
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
On reflection, I'm inclined to agree. I suggested that it might be a deliberate emphasis, but I do note that find myself emphasising it naturally when I say it out loud...I have updated my answer to reflect this
– jimbobmcgee
7 hours ago
1
I'm British, and maybe it's because I started French at school aged 10, but I would say confidant in the French way (the final 'a' vowel like the 'o' in 'Ontario', but not pronouncing the -nt for a male person and, if the person were female, writing confidante and saying the -nte ending. I am aware that some of my UK compatriots don't go this far. Tant pis
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
add a comment |
I would say that, while they do sound similar enough in casual usage, they are definitely not the same word.
"Confident" is an adjective that describes someone having the feeling of confidence (i.e. a self-belief); while "a confidant" is a noun that describes a person to whom you might tell a secret (i.e. it is based on the verb to confide).
When spoken aloud, unless emphasised, both will sound like the contracted confidn't (sorry, I haven't studied the pronunciation symbols). Many people—especially those who are aware or observant of its French roots—may increase the emphasis on the -ant part of confidant (and soften the -t), in recognition of those roots.
Now I have looked up an explicit definition of homophone, I would say that the two words do qualify as homophones, in that they are both words that pronounced the same but differ in meaning, derivation or spelling)
New contributor
add a comment |
The vowel in the "confidant" is more heavily pronounced
/ˈkɒnfɪdant,ˌkɒnfɪˈdant,ˌkɒnfɪˈdɑːnt/
There are various pronunciations that are possible, the second syllable is often stressed, but even if not it is a clear vowel /a/
In confident the last vowel is reduced to a schwa, and never stressed. In fact it is so reduced that it is hardly pronounced at all.
/ˈkɒnfɪd(ə)nt/
But the words are distinguished by syntax. "Confidant" is a noun (and rather rare) but "confident" is a common adjective.
add a comment |
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function()
var channelOptions =
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "481"
;
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function()
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled)
StackExchange.using("snippets", function()
createEditor();
);
else
createEditor();
);
function createEditor()
StackExchange.prepareEditor(
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader:
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
,
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
);
);
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f216926%2fare-confidant-and-confident-homophones%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
I pronounce the two words differently. I happen to be a native speaker of American English whose father studied French extensively and whose mother taught French -- but I do not know French myself.
I pronounce "confident" as "CONfidint", much like jimbobmcgee's transcription.
I pronounce the last syllable of "confidant" the way I pronounce the first syllable of "Ontario", or the way some people pronounce "aunt". In other words, it rhymes with "want".
1
I agree, and in my BrE accent the stress in "confidant" leans to the end.
– Weather Vane
8 hours ago
@WeatherVane -- I place more stress on the last syllable of "confidant" than the last syllable of "confident", but I am not sure if it is more stress than on the first syllable.
– Jasper
7 hours ago
1
Yes, I put some stress on the first and last syllables of "confidant", but mostly on just the first syllable of "confident".
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
On reflection, I'm inclined to agree. I suggested that it might be a deliberate emphasis, but I do note that find myself emphasising it naturally when I say it out loud...I have updated my answer to reflect this
– jimbobmcgee
7 hours ago
1
I'm British, and maybe it's because I started French at school aged 10, but I would say confidant in the French way (the final 'a' vowel like the 'o' in 'Ontario', but not pronouncing the -nt for a male person and, if the person were female, writing confidante and saying the -nte ending. I am aware that some of my UK compatriots don't go this far. Tant pis
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
add a comment |
I pronounce the two words differently. I happen to be a native speaker of American English whose father studied French extensively and whose mother taught French -- but I do not know French myself.
I pronounce "confident" as "CONfidint", much like jimbobmcgee's transcription.
I pronounce the last syllable of "confidant" the way I pronounce the first syllable of "Ontario", or the way some people pronounce "aunt". In other words, it rhymes with "want".
1
I agree, and in my BrE accent the stress in "confidant" leans to the end.
– Weather Vane
8 hours ago
@WeatherVane -- I place more stress on the last syllable of "confidant" than the last syllable of "confident", but I am not sure if it is more stress than on the first syllable.
– Jasper
7 hours ago
1
Yes, I put some stress on the first and last syllables of "confidant", but mostly on just the first syllable of "confident".
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
On reflection, I'm inclined to agree. I suggested that it might be a deliberate emphasis, but I do note that find myself emphasising it naturally when I say it out loud...I have updated my answer to reflect this
– jimbobmcgee
7 hours ago
1
I'm British, and maybe it's because I started French at school aged 10, but I would say confidant in the French way (the final 'a' vowel like the 'o' in 'Ontario', but not pronouncing the -nt for a male person and, if the person were female, writing confidante and saying the -nte ending. I am aware that some of my UK compatriots don't go this far. Tant pis
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
add a comment |
I pronounce the two words differently. I happen to be a native speaker of American English whose father studied French extensively and whose mother taught French -- but I do not know French myself.
I pronounce "confident" as "CONfidint", much like jimbobmcgee's transcription.
I pronounce the last syllable of "confidant" the way I pronounce the first syllable of "Ontario", or the way some people pronounce "aunt". In other words, it rhymes with "want".
I pronounce the two words differently. I happen to be a native speaker of American English whose father studied French extensively and whose mother taught French -- but I do not know French myself.
I pronounce "confident" as "CONfidint", much like jimbobmcgee's transcription.
I pronounce the last syllable of "confidant" the way I pronounce the first syllable of "Ontario", or the way some people pronounce "aunt". In other words, it rhymes with "want".
answered 8 hours ago
JasperJasper
21.3k4 gold badges43 silver badges78 bronze badges
21.3k4 gold badges43 silver badges78 bronze badges
1
I agree, and in my BrE accent the stress in "confidant" leans to the end.
– Weather Vane
8 hours ago
@WeatherVane -- I place more stress on the last syllable of "confidant" than the last syllable of "confident", but I am not sure if it is more stress than on the first syllable.
– Jasper
7 hours ago
1
Yes, I put some stress on the first and last syllables of "confidant", but mostly on just the first syllable of "confident".
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
On reflection, I'm inclined to agree. I suggested that it might be a deliberate emphasis, but I do note that find myself emphasising it naturally when I say it out loud...I have updated my answer to reflect this
– jimbobmcgee
7 hours ago
1
I'm British, and maybe it's because I started French at school aged 10, but I would say confidant in the French way (the final 'a' vowel like the 'o' in 'Ontario', but not pronouncing the -nt for a male person and, if the person were female, writing confidante and saying the -nte ending. I am aware that some of my UK compatriots don't go this far. Tant pis
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
add a comment |
1
I agree, and in my BrE accent the stress in "confidant" leans to the end.
– Weather Vane
8 hours ago
@WeatherVane -- I place more stress on the last syllable of "confidant" than the last syllable of "confident", but I am not sure if it is more stress than on the first syllable.
– Jasper
7 hours ago
1
Yes, I put some stress on the first and last syllables of "confidant", but mostly on just the first syllable of "confident".
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
On reflection, I'm inclined to agree. I suggested that it might be a deliberate emphasis, but I do note that find myself emphasising it naturally when I say it out loud...I have updated my answer to reflect this
– jimbobmcgee
7 hours ago
1
I'm British, and maybe it's because I started French at school aged 10, but I would say confidant in the French way (the final 'a' vowel like the 'o' in 'Ontario', but not pronouncing the -nt for a male person and, if the person were female, writing confidante and saying the -nte ending. I am aware that some of my UK compatriots don't go this far. Tant pis
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
1
1
I agree, and in my BrE accent the stress in "confidant" leans to the end.
– Weather Vane
8 hours ago
I agree, and in my BrE accent the stress in "confidant" leans to the end.
– Weather Vane
8 hours ago
@WeatherVane -- I place more stress on the last syllable of "confidant" than the last syllable of "confident", but I am not sure if it is more stress than on the first syllable.
– Jasper
7 hours ago
@WeatherVane -- I place more stress on the last syllable of "confidant" than the last syllable of "confident", but I am not sure if it is more stress than on the first syllable.
– Jasper
7 hours ago
1
1
Yes, I put some stress on the first and last syllables of "confidant", but mostly on just the first syllable of "confident".
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
Yes, I put some stress on the first and last syllables of "confidant", but mostly on just the first syllable of "confident".
– Weather Vane
7 hours ago
On reflection, I'm inclined to agree. I suggested that it might be a deliberate emphasis, but I do note that find myself emphasising it naturally when I say it out loud...I have updated my answer to reflect this
– jimbobmcgee
7 hours ago
On reflection, I'm inclined to agree. I suggested that it might be a deliberate emphasis, but I do note that find myself emphasising it naturally when I say it out loud...I have updated my answer to reflect this
– jimbobmcgee
7 hours ago
1
1
I'm British, and maybe it's because I started French at school aged 10, but I would say confidant in the French way (the final 'a' vowel like the 'o' in 'Ontario', but not pronouncing the -nt for a male person and, if the person were female, writing confidante and saying the -nte ending. I am aware that some of my UK compatriots don't go this far. Tant pis
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
I'm British, and maybe it's because I started French at school aged 10, but I would say confidant in the French way (the final 'a' vowel like the 'o' in 'Ontario', but not pronouncing the -nt for a male person and, if the person were female, writing confidante and saying the -nte ending. I am aware that some of my UK compatriots don't go this far. Tant pis
– Michael Harvey
7 hours ago
add a comment |
I would say that, while they do sound similar enough in casual usage, they are definitely not the same word.
"Confident" is an adjective that describes someone having the feeling of confidence (i.e. a self-belief); while "a confidant" is a noun that describes a person to whom you might tell a secret (i.e. it is based on the verb to confide).
When spoken aloud, unless emphasised, both will sound like the contracted confidn't (sorry, I haven't studied the pronunciation symbols). Many people—especially those who are aware or observant of its French roots—may increase the emphasis on the -ant part of confidant (and soften the -t), in recognition of those roots.
Now I have looked up an explicit definition of homophone, I would say that the two words do qualify as homophones, in that they are both words that pronounced the same but differ in meaning, derivation or spelling)
New contributor
add a comment |
I would say that, while they do sound similar enough in casual usage, they are definitely not the same word.
"Confident" is an adjective that describes someone having the feeling of confidence (i.e. a self-belief); while "a confidant" is a noun that describes a person to whom you might tell a secret (i.e. it is based on the verb to confide).
When spoken aloud, unless emphasised, both will sound like the contracted confidn't (sorry, I haven't studied the pronunciation symbols). Many people—especially those who are aware or observant of its French roots—may increase the emphasis on the -ant part of confidant (and soften the -t), in recognition of those roots.
Now I have looked up an explicit definition of homophone, I would say that the two words do qualify as homophones, in that they are both words that pronounced the same but differ in meaning, derivation or spelling)
New contributor
add a comment |
I would say that, while they do sound similar enough in casual usage, they are definitely not the same word.
"Confident" is an adjective that describes someone having the feeling of confidence (i.e. a self-belief); while "a confidant" is a noun that describes a person to whom you might tell a secret (i.e. it is based on the verb to confide).
When spoken aloud, unless emphasised, both will sound like the contracted confidn't (sorry, I haven't studied the pronunciation symbols). Many people—especially those who are aware or observant of its French roots—may increase the emphasis on the -ant part of confidant (and soften the -t), in recognition of those roots.
Now I have looked up an explicit definition of homophone, I would say that the two words do qualify as homophones, in that they are both words that pronounced the same but differ in meaning, derivation or spelling)
New contributor
I would say that, while they do sound similar enough in casual usage, they are definitely not the same word.
"Confident" is an adjective that describes someone having the feeling of confidence (i.e. a self-belief); while "a confidant" is a noun that describes a person to whom you might tell a secret (i.e. it is based on the verb to confide).
When spoken aloud, unless emphasised, both will sound like the contracted confidn't (sorry, I haven't studied the pronunciation symbols). Many people—especially those who are aware or observant of its French roots—may increase the emphasis on the -ant part of confidant (and soften the -t), in recognition of those roots.
Now I have looked up an explicit definition of homophone, I would say that the two words do qualify as homophones, in that they are both words that pronounced the same but differ in meaning, derivation or spelling)
New contributor
edited 7 hours ago
New contributor
answered 8 hours ago
jimbobmcgeejimbobmcgee
2232 bronze badges
2232 bronze badges
New contributor
New contributor
add a comment |
add a comment |
The vowel in the "confidant" is more heavily pronounced
/ˈkɒnfɪdant,ˌkɒnfɪˈdant,ˌkɒnfɪˈdɑːnt/
There are various pronunciations that are possible, the second syllable is often stressed, but even if not it is a clear vowel /a/
In confident the last vowel is reduced to a schwa, and never stressed. In fact it is so reduced that it is hardly pronounced at all.
/ˈkɒnfɪd(ə)nt/
But the words are distinguished by syntax. "Confidant" is a noun (and rather rare) but "confident" is a common adjective.
add a comment |
The vowel in the "confidant" is more heavily pronounced
/ˈkɒnfɪdant,ˌkɒnfɪˈdant,ˌkɒnfɪˈdɑːnt/
There are various pronunciations that are possible, the second syllable is often stressed, but even if not it is a clear vowel /a/
In confident the last vowel is reduced to a schwa, and never stressed. In fact it is so reduced that it is hardly pronounced at all.
/ˈkɒnfɪd(ə)nt/
But the words are distinguished by syntax. "Confidant" is a noun (and rather rare) but "confident" is a common adjective.
add a comment |
The vowel in the "confidant" is more heavily pronounced
/ˈkɒnfɪdant,ˌkɒnfɪˈdant,ˌkɒnfɪˈdɑːnt/
There are various pronunciations that are possible, the second syllable is often stressed, but even if not it is a clear vowel /a/
In confident the last vowel is reduced to a schwa, and never stressed. In fact it is so reduced that it is hardly pronounced at all.
/ˈkɒnfɪd(ə)nt/
But the words are distinguished by syntax. "Confidant" is a noun (and rather rare) but "confident" is a common adjective.
The vowel in the "confidant" is more heavily pronounced
/ˈkɒnfɪdant,ˌkɒnfɪˈdant,ˌkɒnfɪˈdɑːnt/
There are various pronunciations that are possible, the second syllable is often stressed, but even if not it is a clear vowel /a/
In confident the last vowel is reduced to a schwa, and never stressed. In fact it is so reduced that it is hardly pronounced at all.
/ˈkɒnfɪd(ə)nt/
But the words are distinguished by syntax. "Confidant" is a noun (and rather rare) but "confident" is a common adjective.
answered 6 hours ago
James KJames K
48.1k1 gold badge48 silver badges119 bronze badges
48.1k1 gold badge48 silver badges119 bronze badges
add a comment |
add a comment |
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language Learners Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fell.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f216926%2fare-confidant-and-confident-homophones%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown