How to pronounce alliteration
Say it like uh-lit-uh-RAY-shun. Alliteration has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (RAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce alliteration. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- lit
- uh
- RAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Alliteration 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.
- litGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of alliteration
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: uh-lit-uh-RAY-shun.
What does alliteration mean?
- The repetition of consonant sounds or letters at the beginning of two or more words immediately succeeding each other, or at short intervals; such repetition specifically involving stressed syllables.
- The recurrence of the same letters or sounds in accented parts of words, as in Anglo-Saxon alliterative meter.
Where does alliteration come from?
From New Latin allīterātiō, from allīterātus, from allīterō, from Latin ad (“to, towards, near”) and lītera (“a letter”).
Words that rhyme with alliteration
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of alliteration.
Questions about saying alliteration
How do you pronounce alliteration?
Say uh-lit-uh-RAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃən/. In British English it is /əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in alliteration?
Alliteration has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (RAY). Broken into parts: uh · lit · uh · RAY · shun.
Is alliteration pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃən/ (uh-lit-uh-RAY-shun).