How to pronounce apportion
Say it like uh-POR-shun. Apportion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (POR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce apportion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- POR
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Apportion 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.
- PORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of apportion
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: uh-PAW-shun.
What does apportion mean?
- To divide and distribute portions of a whole.“The controlling party had apportioned the voting districts such that their party would be favored in the next election.”
- Specifically, to do so in a fair and equitable manner; to allocate proportionally.“The children were required to dump all of their Halloween candy on the table so that their parents could apportion it among them.”
Where does apportion come from?
From Middle French apportionner, from Old French aporcioner, from Late Latin apportionare, from Latin ad + portio.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with apportion
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of apportion.
Questions about saying apportion
How do you pronounce apportion?
Say uh-POR-shun. The American pronunciation is /əˈpɔrʃən/. In British English it is /əˈpɔːʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in apportion?
Apportion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (POR). Broken into parts: uh · POR · shun.
Is apportion pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /əˈpɔːʃən/ (uh-PAW-shun).