How to pronounce collocation
Say it like kah-luh-KAY-shun. Collocation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (KAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce collocation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kah
- luh
- KAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Collocation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kahGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- luhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- KAYSay 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 collocation
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: kol-uh-KAY-shun.
What does collocation mean?
- The grouping or juxtaposition of things, especially words or sounds.
- Such a specific grouping.
- A sequence of words or terms that co-occur more often than would be expected by chance (i.e., the statistically significant placement of particular words in a language), often representing an established name for, or idiomatic way of conveying, a particular semantic concept.
Where does collocation come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin collocātiō (“a putting together”).
Words that rhyme with collocation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of collocation.
Questions about saying collocation
How do you pronounce collocation?
Say kah-luh-KAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌkɑləˈkeɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌkɒləˈkeɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in collocation?
Collocation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (KAY). Broken into parts: kah · luh · KAY · shun.
Is collocation pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌkɒləˈkeɪʃən/ (kol-uh-KAY-shun).