How to pronounce contamination
Say it like kun-tam-uh-NAY-shun. Contamination has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (NAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce contamination. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kun
- tam
- uh
- NAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Contamination pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- tamGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NAYSay 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 contamination
American and British speakers say contamination in essentially the same way: /kənˌtæməˈneɪʃən/ in the US and /kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: kun-tam-ih-NAY-shun.
What does contamination mean?
- the state of being contaminated
- a substance that contaminates
- the act of contaminating or polluting; including (either intentionally or accidentally) unwanted substances or factors
Where does contamination come from?
From Latin contāminātiōnem.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with contamination
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of contamination.
- information
- education
- situation
- association
- population
- station
- administration
- operation
- organization
- application
Questions about saying contamination
How do you pronounce contamination?
Say kun-tam-uh-NAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /kənˌtæməˈneɪʃən/. In British English it is /kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in contamination?
Contamination has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (NAY). Broken into parts: kun · tam · uh · NAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say contamination the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kənˌtæməˈneɪʃən/ and the British form is /kənˌtæmɪˈneɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.