How to pronounce designation
Say it like dez-ug-NAY-shun. Designation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce designation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dez
- ug
- NAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Designation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dezGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- ugKeep 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 designation
American and British speakers say designation in essentially the same way: /ˌdɛzəɡˈneɪʃən/ in the US and /ˌdɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: dez-ig-NAY-shun.
What does designation mean?
- identifying word or words by which someone or something is called and classified or distinguished from others
- the act of putting a person into a non-elective position“the appointment had to be approved by the whole committee”
- the act of designating or identifying something
Where does designation come from?
From Middle English designacioun, from Latin dēsignātiō, and partly (especially in sense 5) from design + -ation.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with designation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of designation.
- information
- education
- situation
- association
- population
- station
- administration
- operation
- organization
- application
Questions about saying designation
How do you pronounce designation?
Say dez-ug-NAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌdɛzəɡˈneɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌdɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in designation?
Designation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NAY). Broken into parts: dez · ug · NAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say designation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌdɛzəɡˈneɪʃən/ and the British form is /ˌdɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.