How to pronounce conventional
Say it like kun-VEN-shuh-nul. Conventional has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce conventional. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- kun
- VEN
- shuh
- nul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Conventional 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.
- VENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- shuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of conventional
American and British speakers say conventional in essentially the same way: /kənˈvɛnʃənəl/ in the US and /kənˈvɛnʃənəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: kun-VEN-shuh-nul.
What does conventional mean?
- following accepted customs and proprieties“conventional wisdom”“she had strayed from the path of conventional behavior”
- conforming with accepted standards“a conventional view of the world”
- (weapons) using energy for propulsion or destruction that is not nuclear energy“conventional warfare”“conventional weapons”
Where does conventional come from?
From convention + -al.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with conventional
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of conventional.
Questions about saying conventional
How do you pronounce conventional?
Say kun-VEN-shuh-nul. The American pronunciation is /kənˈvɛnʃənəl/. In British English it is /kənˈvɛnʃənəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in conventional?
Conventional has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VEN). Broken into parts: kun · VEN · shuh · nul.
Do Americans and Brits say conventional the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /kənˈvɛnʃənəl/ and the British form is /kənˈvɛnʃənəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.