How to pronounce aviation
Say it like ay-vee-AY-shun. Aviation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (AY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce aviation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ay
- vee
- AY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Aviation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ayGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- veeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- 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 aviation
American and British speakers say aviation in essentially the same way: /ˌeɪviˈeɪʃən/ in the US and /ˌeɪvɪˈeɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: ay-vih-AY-shun.
What does aviation mean?
- the aggregation of a country's military aircraft
- the operation of aircraft to provide transportation
- the art of operating aircraft
Where does aviation come from?
Borrowed from French aviation, derived from Latin avis (“bird”).
Words that rhyme with aviation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of aviation.
Questions about saying aviation
How do you pronounce aviation?
Say ay-vee-AY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌeɪviˈeɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌeɪvɪˈeɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in aviation?
Aviation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (AY). Broken into parts: ay · vee · AY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say aviation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌeɪviˈeɪʃən/ and the British form is /ˌeɪvɪˈeɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.