How to pronounce abstention
Say it like ab-STEN-shun. Abstention has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce abstention. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ab
- STEN
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Abstention pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- abKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- STENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of abstention
American and British speakers say abstention in essentially the same way: /æbˈstɛnʃən/ in the US and /əbˈstɛnʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: ub-STEN-shun.
What does abstention mean?
- The act of abstaining or refraining (from).“abstention from alcohol”
- The act of declining to vote on a particular issue.“There were five abstentions in the vote.”
- Non-participation in the political world; as a country avoiding international affairs.
Where does abstention come from?
First attested in 1521.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with abstention
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of abstention.
Questions about saying abstention
How do you pronounce abstention?
Say ab-STEN-shun. The American pronunciation is /æbˈstɛnʃən/. In British English it is /əbˈstɛnʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in abstention?
Abstention has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STEN). Broken into parts: ab · STEN · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say abstention the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /æbˈstɛnʃən/ and the British form is /əbˈstɛnʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.