How to pronounce adoption

Q: How do you pronounce adoption?

Say uh-DAHP-shun. The American pronunciation is /əˈdɑpʃən/. In British English it is /əˈdɒpʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

Say it like uh-DAHP-shun. Adoption has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DAHP).

VoiceSpeed

Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce adoption. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.

US American/əˈdɑpʃən/uh-DAHP-shun

UK British/əˈdɒpʃən/uh-DOP-shun

uh
DAHP
shun

Main stress
Lighter stress
Unstressed

Adoption 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.
DAHPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.

American vs British pronunciation of adoption

The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.

British respelling: uh-DOP-shun.

What does adoption mean?

noun

the act of accepting with approval; favorable reception“its adoption by society”“the proposal found wide acceptance”
a legal proceeding that creates a parent-child relation between persons not related by blood; the adopted child is entitled to all privileges belonging to a natural child of the adoptive parents (including the right to inherit)
the appropriation (of ideas or words etc) from another source“the borrowing of ancient motifs was very apparent”

Where does adoption come from?

Borrowed from French adoption, from Latin adoptio, allied to adoptare (“to adopt”).

Similar and opposite words

Similar meaning

acceptance

Questions about saying adoption

How do you pronounce adoption?

Say uh-DAHP-shun. The American pronunciation is /əˈdɑpʃən/. In British English it is /əˈdɒpʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.

How many syllables are in adoption?

Adoption has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DAHP). Broken into parts: uh · DAHP · shun.

Is adoption pronounced differently in British English?

Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /əˈdɒpʃən/ (uh-DOP-shun).