How to pronounce compassion
Say it like kum-PASH-un. Compassion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PASH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce compassion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kum
- PASH
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Compassion 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.
- PASHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of compassion
American and British speakers say compassion in essentially the same way: /kəmˈpæʃən/ in the US and /kəmˈpæʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: kum-PASH-un.
What does compassion mean?
- a deep awareness of and sympathy for another's suffering
- the humane quality of understanding the suffering of others and wanting to do something about it
Where does compassion come from?
From Middle English compassioun, compassion, from Old French compassion, from Ecclesiastical Latin compassio (“sympathy”), from Latin compati, past participle compassus (“to suffer together with”), from com- (“together”) + pati (“to suffer”); see passion.
Words that rhyme with compassion
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of compassion.
Questions about saying compassion
How do you pronounce compassion?
Say kum-PASH-un. The American pronunciation is /kəmˈpæʃən/. In British English it is /kəmˈpæʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in compassion?
Compassion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PASH). Broken into parts: kum · PASH · un.
Do Americans and Brits say compassion the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kəmˈpæʃən/ and the British form is /kəmˈpæʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.