How to pronounce conservation
Say it like kahn-ser-VAY-shun. Conservation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce conservation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kahn
- ser
- VAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Conservation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kahnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- serKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- VAYSay 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 conservation
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: kon-suh-VAY-shun.
What does conservation mean?
- an occurrence of improvement by virtue of preventing loss or injury or other change
- the preservation and careful management of the environment and of natural resources
- (physics) the maintenance of a certain quantities unchanged during chemical reactions or physical transformations
Where does conservation come from?
From Old French. By surface analysis, conserve + -ation.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with conservation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of conservation.
Questions about saying conservation
How do you pronounce conservation?
Say kahn-ser-VAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌkɑnsɚˈveɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in conservation?
Conservation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VAY). Broken into parts: kahn · ser · VAY · shun.
Is conservation pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌkɒnsəˈveɪʃən/ (kon-suh-VAY-shun).