How to pronounce attenuation
Say it like uh-ten-yoo-AY-shun. Attenuation has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (AY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce attenuation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- ten
- yoo
- AY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Attenuation 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.
- tenGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- yooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- AYSay 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 attenuation
American and British speakers say attenuation in essentially the same way: /əˌtɛnjuˈeɪʃən/ in the US and /əˌtɛnjuːˈeɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-ten-yoo-AY-shun.
What does attenuation mean?
- A gradual diminishing of strength.
- A reduction in the level of some property with distance, especially the amplitude of a wave or the strength of a signal.
- A weakening in the virulence of a pathogen or other microorganism.
Where does attenuation come from?
From Middle English attenuacioun, a borrowing from Latin attenuātiō (“a diminishing”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with attenuation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of attenuation.
Questions about saying attenuation
How do you pronounce attenuation?
Say uh-ten-yoo-AY-shun. The American pronunciation is /əˌtɛnjuˈeɪʃən/. In British English it is /əˌtɛnjuːˈeɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in attenuation?
Attenuation has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (AY). Broken into parts: uh · ten · yoo · AY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say attenuation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˌtɛnjuˈeɪʃən/ and the British form is /əˌtɛnjuːˈeɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.