How to pronounce celebration
Say it like sel-ub-RAY-shun. Celebration 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 celebration. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sel
- ub
- RAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Celebration pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- selGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ubKeep 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 celebration
American and British speakers say celebration in essentially the same way: /ˌsɛləbˈreɪʃən/ in the US and /ˌsɛləbˈreɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: sel-ub-RAY-shun.
What does celebration mean?
- a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event
- any joyous diversion
- the public performance of a sacrament or solemn ceremony with all appropriate ritual“the celebration of marriage”
Where does celebration come from?
From Old French celebration, from Latin celebratio.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with celebration
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of celebration.
Questions about saying celebration
How do you pronounce celebration?
Say sel-ub-RAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌsɛləbˈreɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌsɛləbˈreɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in celebration?
Celebration has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RAY). Broken into parts: sel · ub · RAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say celebration the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌsɛləbˈreɪʃən/ and the British form is /ˌsɛləbˈreɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.