How to pronounce combustion
Say it like kum-BUHS-chun. Combustion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BUHS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce combustion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kum
- BUHS
- chun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Combustion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kumKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- BUHSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- chunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of combustion
American and British speakers say combustion in essentially the same way: /kəmˈbʌstʃən/ in the US and /kəmˈbʌstʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: kum-BUHS-chun.
What does combustion mean?
- a process in which a substance reacts with oxygen to give heat and light
- a state of violent disturbance and excitement“combustion grew until revolt was unavoidable”
- the act of burning something“the burning of leaves was prohibited by a town ordinance”
Where does combustion come from?
From Old French combustion, from Latin combustio, from comburere (“to burn”), itself from the intensifying prefix com- + the root burere (a faulty sep.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying combustion
How do you pronounce combustion?
Say kum-BUHS-chun. The American pronunciation is /kəmˈbʌstʃən/. In British English it is /kəmˈbʌstʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in combustion?
Combustion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BUHS). Broken into parts: kum · BUHS · chun.
Do Americans and Brits say combustion the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəmˈbʌstʃən/ and the British form is /kəmˈbʌstʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.