How to pronounce aspiration
Say it like as-puh-RAY-shun. Aspiration has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce aspiration. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- as
- puh
- RAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Aspiration pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- asGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- puhKeep 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 aspiration
American and British speakers say aspiration in essentially the same way: /ˌæspəˈreɪʃən/ in the US and /ˌæspɪˈreɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: as-pih-RAY-shun.
What does aspiration mean?
- The act of aspiring or ardently desiring; an ardent wish or desire, chiefly after what is elevated or spiritual (with common adjunct adpositions being to and of).“Riley has an aspiration to become a doctor.”
- The action of aspirating.
- A burst of air that follows the release of some consonants.“In Cambodian, aspiration is phonemic, so /p/ and /pʰ/ are different phonemes.”
- The withdrawal of fluid, tissue, or other substance, usually through a hollow needle from a body cavity, cyst, or tumor.
Where does aspiration come from?
From aspire + -ation.
Words that rhyme with aspiration
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of aspiration.
Questions about saying aspiration
How do you pronounce aspiration?
Say as-puh-RAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌæspəˈreɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌæspɪˈreɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in aspiration?
Aspiration has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RAY). Broken into parts: as · puh · RAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say aspiration the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌæspəˈreɪʃən/ and the British form is /ˌæspɪˈreɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.