How to pronounce abortion
Say it like uh-BOR-shun. Abortion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BOR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce abortion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- BOR
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Abortion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- BORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of abortion
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: uh-BAW-shun.
What does abortion mean?
- termination of pregnancy
- failure of a plan
Where does abortion come from?
From Latin abortiōnem (“miscarriage, abortion”), from aborior (“to miscarry”).
Words that rhyme with abortion
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of abortion.
Questions about saying abortion
How do you pronounce abortion?
Say uh-BOR-shun. The American pronunciation is /əˈbɔrʃən/. In British English it is /əˈbɔːʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in abortion?
Abortion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BOR). Broken into parts: uh · BOR · shun.
Is abortion pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /əˈbɔːʃən/ (uh-BAW-shun).