How to pronounce addiction
Say it like uh-DIK-shun. Addiction has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DIK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce addiction. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- DIK
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Addiction 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.
- DIKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of addiction
American and British speakers say addiction in essentially the same way: /əˈdɪkʃən/ in the US and /əˈdɪkʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-DIK-shun.
What does addiction mean?
- being abnormally tolerant to and dependent on something that is psychologically or physically habit-forming (especially alcohol or narcotic drugs)
- an abnormally strong craving
- (Roman law) a formal award by a magistrate of a thing or person to another person (as the award of a debtor to his creditor); a surrender to a master“under Roman law addiction was the justification for slavery”
Where does addiction come from?
From addict + -ion; compare (Latin) addictio (“an adjudging, an award”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with addiction
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of addiction.
Questions about saying addiction
How do you pronounce addiction?
Say uh-DIK-shun. The American pronunciation is /əˈdɪkʃən/. In British English it is /əˈdɪkʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in addiction?
Addiction has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DIK). Broken into parts: uh · DIK · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say addiction the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈdɪkʃən/ and the British form is /əˈdɪkʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.