How to pronounce comprehension
Say it like kom-pree-HEN-shun. Comprehension has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (HEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce comprehension. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kom
- pree
- HEN
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Comprehension pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- komGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- preeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- HENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of comprehension
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: kom-prih-HEN-shun.
What does comprehension mean?
- an ability to understand the meaning or importance of something (or the knowledge acquired as a result)“how you can do that is beyond my comprehension”“he was famous for his comprehension of American literature”
- the relation of comprising something“he admired the inclusion of so many ideas in such a short work”
Where does comprehension come from?
Borrowed from Middle French compréhension, from Latin comprehēnsiō (“taking together”), from com- (“with, together”) + prehendō (“take”).
Words that rhyme with comprehension
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of comprehension.
Questions about saying comprehension
How do you pronounce comprehension?
Say kom-pree-HEN-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌkɑmpriˈhɛnʃən/. In British English it is /ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in comprehension?
Comprehension has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (HEN). Broken into parts: kom · pree · HEN · shun.
Is comprehension 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 /ˌkɒmprɪˈhɛnʃən/ (kom-prih-HEN-shun).