You’ve probably heard it in a coffee shop or during a high-stakes board meeting. Someone leans in, trying to sound sophisticated, and says they have a "pon-shon" for expensive stationery. Or maybe they go the other way, sticking to a hard "pen-chant" that sounds like they’re reading a grocery list. Honestly, both of them might be right—or wrong—depending on who you ask and which side of the Atlantic you’re standing on. Language is messy.
Understanding how to pronounce penchant isn't just about sounding smart. It’s about navigating the weird, blurry line between English and its French origins. We steal words. We break them. Then we pretend we meant to do it all along.
The word itself refers to a strong or habitual liking for something or a tendency to do something. It’s a useful word. It’s got flair. But that flair is exactly what makes it a linguistic landmine. If you say it "too French," you risk looking like a pretender. If you say it "too English," you might feel like a philistine.
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The Great Divide: American vs. British Ears
In the United States, we’ve mostly settled on a version that leans into our own phonetic rules. Most American dictionaries, including Merriam-Webster, prioritize PEN-chunt. It rhymes with "hen" and "grunt." It’s straightforward. It’s efficient. It doesn’t try too hard.
But then there’s the British influence.
Across the pond, and in many high-society circles in the States, you’ll hear the more gallicized PON-shon. This version respects the word's 16th-century French roots, where penchant is the present participle of pencher, meaning "to lean." When you have a penchant for something, you are literally "leaning" toward it.
Here is the thing about the French version, though: if you’re going to do it, you have to go all in. The French "n" isn't really an "n" at all; it’s a nasalization of the vowel. If you hit that "n" too hard while trying to sound French, you end up in a phonetic no-man's-land that satisfies no one.
Why the Confusion Persists
Etymology is a stubborn teacher. Words like "foyer" or "niche" suffer from the same identity crisis. We can't decide if we want to honor the source or colonize the sound.
Lexicographer Bryan Garner, author of Garner's Modern English Usage, notes that "pen-chunt" has become the dominant American pronunciation. He actually tracks the "Language-Change Index," which measures how far a word has moved from its original state to its current common usage. For penchant, the Americanization is nearly complete.
- The "Pen" start: This is the most common way to begin the word in the U.S.
- The "Pon" start: This signals a nod to the French penchant (pa-shah).
- The ending: Does it end with a "t" sound? In the U.S., almost always. In traditional British English, often not.
It’s a spectrum. On one end, you have the "Anglo-Saxon" approach: PEN-chunt. In the middle, you have the hybrid: PON-chunt. On the far end, you have the "Parisian" attempt: PAWN-shawn (with those nasal vowels).
Most people trip up because they try to split the difference and end up with something that sounds like "pen-shon," which isn't really a standard pronunciation in any major dialect. It’s the "uncanny valley" of linguistics.
Let's Talk About the French Connection
If you were standing in the middle of Lyon, you wouldn't say "pen-chunt." You’d sound ridiculous. The French pronunciation is closer to /pɑ̃ʃɑ̃/.
Notice there is no "t" sound at the end. None. The French are famously frugal with their consonant sounds at the ends of words.
When the word entered English in the late 1600s, it stayed "fancy" for a long time. People who used it were usually well-educated and spoke French, so they kept the French sound. But as the word trickled down into general usage, English speakers did what they always do: they forced it to follow English rules. We call this "anglicization." It’s why we say "Paris" with an "s" instead of "Pa-ree."
Social Context Matters More Than the Dictionary
Honestly, the "correct" way to pronounce it depends entirely on your audience.
If you are at a casual backyard BBQ in Ohio and you say you have a "pon-shon" for craft beer, your friends might look at you like you’ve just started reciting Shakespeare in a grocery store. It feels performative. In that setting, PEN-chunt is the natural, human choice.
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However, if you are delivering a lecture on 18th-century art history or speaking with a group of linguists, the more French-inflected version might be the standard. It shows an awareness of the word's history.
There is a subtle social signaling involved here. Choosing the French pronunciation is often a "prestige" move. It signals education. Choosing the English pronunciation signals approachability and modern usage. Neither is objectively "better," but they communicate different things about the speaker.
The "T" Trap
To "t" or not to "t"? That is the real question.
In the United States, dropping the "t" at the end of penchant is increasingly rare. If you say "pon-shon," you are essentially using a foreign loanword. If you say "pen-chunt," you are using an English word.
What you really want to avoid is the "middle-of-the-road" error where you use the English "pen" at the start but try to drop the "t" at the end. "Pen-shon" is generally considered incorrect by most orthoepists (people who study the right way to say things). It's a bit of a linguistic "mullet"—business in the front, party in the back, and not in a good way.
Real-World Usage Examples
Look at how various public figures handle it. You’ll notice that news anchors—who are trained in "General American" speech—almost universally stick to PEN-chunt. It is clear. It cuts through static.
On the other hand, you might hear a British actor like Benedict Cumberbatch or Stephen Fry lean into the softer, more French-sounding version. They aren't being "pretentious"; they are simply following the phonetic heritage of their dialect.
- The American Way: "She has a PEN-chunt for drama." (Rhymes with trenchant)
- The British/Sophisticated Way: "He has a PON-shon for fine wine." (Rhymes roughly with bon-bon)
How to Master the Sound
If you want to stick with the American standard, keep it crisp.
Make the first syllable sound exactly like the writing utensil.
The second syllable should be short, like the "unt" in "hunt."
If you want the more "refined" version, soften the "ch" into a "sh" sound.
Instead of "chunt," you are aiming for "shon."
The "o" should be open, like in the word "on."
Common Misconceptions
People often think that because a word comes from French, the French pronunciation is the only "right" one. This is a fallacy. Once a word enters the English lexicon, it becomes subject to English evolution. We don't pronounce "cliché" exactly like the French do, and we certainly don't say "restaurant" with a perfect Parisian accent every time we want a burger.
Another misconception is that one version is "older." Actually, the anglicized "pen-chunt" has been around for centuries. It’s not a new "lazy" invention; it’s just the natural result of English speakers using the word in daily life.
Actionable Steps for Your Vocabulary
If you’re worried about which one to pick, follow these rules of thumb:
Match your environment. Listen to how those around you are speaking. If you’re in a professional American environment, PEN-chunt is your safest bet. You will never be "corrected" for using the standard dictionary pronunciation.
Commit to your choice. The only way to truly sound wrong is to hesitate. If you start the word one way and try to "fix" it halfway through, it will sound awkward. Pick a lane—either the Americanized version or the gallicized one—and say it with confidence.
Use it in context. Don't just learn the sound; learn the feel. A penchant is more than a "like." It’s a "leaning." Use it when you’re describing a quirk or a deep-seated habit.
Watch for the "trenchant" trap. The word "trenchant" (meaning vigorous or incisive) is almost always pronounced with a hard "ch" and a "t" at the end (TREN-chunt). Because these words look similar, many people naturally apply the "trenchant" sounds to "penchant." This is actually a great way to remember the standard American pronunciation.
Record yourself. It sounds silly, but use your phone to record yourself saying: "He has a penchant for adventure." Listen back. Does it sound natural, or does it sound like you're trying to put on a costume? Go with what sounds natural to your own voice.
Language is a tool, not a test. Whether you choose the "correct" French-inspired version or the "correct" Americanized version, the goal is clarity. Now that you know the history and the regional divides, you can stop second-guessing yourself when the word pops up in conversation. Use it, own it, and move on to the next sentence.