How to pronounce cushion
Say it like KUUSH-un. Cushion has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUUSH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce cushion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KUUSH
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Cushion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KUUSHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of cushion
American and British speakers say cushion in essentially the same way: /ˈkʊʃən/ in the US and /ˈkʊʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: KUUSH-un.
What does cushion mean?
- a mechanical damper; absorbs energy of sudden impulses“the old car needed a new set of shocks”
- the layer of air that supports a hovercraft or similar vehicle
- a soft bag filled with air or a mass of padding such as feathers or foam rubber etc.
- protect from impact“cushion the blow”
Where does cushion come from?
From Middle English quysshyn, from later Old French coissin (modern coussin), from Vulgar Latin *coxīnus (“seat pad”), derived from Latin coxa (“hip, thigh”) (with the suffix possibly after Latin pulvīnus (“pillow”)), ultimately from Proto-
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying cushion
How do you pronounce cushion?
Say KUUSH-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈkʊʃən/. In British English it is /ˈkʊʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in cushion?
Cushion has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KUUSH). Broken into parts: KUUSH · un.
Do Americans and Brits say cushion the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈkʊʃən/ and the British form is /ˈkʊʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.