How to pronounce degeneration
Say it like dih-jen-uh-RAY-shun. Degeneration has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (RAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce degeneration. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- jen
- uh
- RAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Degeneration pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- jenGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RAYSay 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 degeneration
American and British speakers say degeneration in essentially the same way: /dɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/ in the US and /dɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-jen-uh-RAY-shun.
What does degeneration mean?
- The process or state of growing worse, or the state of having become worse.
- That condition of a tissue or an organ in which its vitality has become either diminished or perverted; a substitution of a lower for a higher form of structure.“fatty degeneration of the liver”
- Gradual deterioration, from natural causes, of any class of animals or plants or any particular organ or organs; hereditary degradation of type.
Where does degeneration come from?
From French dégénération, from Latin dēgenerātiō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with degeneration
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of degeneration.
Questions about saying degeneration
How do you pronounce degeneration?
Say dih-jen-uh-RAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /dɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/. In British English it is /dɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in degeneration?
Degeneration has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (RAY). Broken into parts: dih · jen · uh · RAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say degeneration the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/ and the British form is /dɪˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.