How to pronounce anticipation
Say it like an-tis-uh-PAY-shun. Anticipation has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (PAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce anticipation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- an
- tis
- uh
- PAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Anticipation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- anKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- tisGive 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.
- PAYSay 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 anticipation
American and British speakers say anticipation in essentially the same way: /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃən/ in the US and /ˌæntɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: an-tih-sih-PAY-shun.
What does anticipation mean?
- an expectation
- something expected (as on the basis of a norm)“each of them had their own anticipations”“an indicator of expectancy in development”
- the act of predicting (as by reasoning about the future)
Where does anticipation come from?
From Middle English anticipacioun, from Middle French anticipation and its etymon Latin anticipātiō, anticipātiōnem.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with anticipation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of anticipation.
Questions about saying anticipation
How do you pronounce anticipation?
Say an-tis-uh-PAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌæntɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in anticipation?
Anticipation has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (PAY). Broken into parts: an · tis · uh · PAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say anticipation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ænˌtɪsəˈpeɪʃən/ and the British form is /ˌæntɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.