How to pronounce diffraction
Say it like dih-FRAK-shun. Diffraction has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FRAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce diffraction. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- FRAK
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Diffraction 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.
- FRAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of diffraction
American and British speakers say diffraction in essentially the same way: /dɪˈfrækʃən/ in the US and /dɪˈfrækʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-FRAK-shun.
What does diffraction mean?
- The bending of a wave around an obstacle.
- The breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure (e.g. a slit), followed by reconstruction of the wave by interference.
Where does diffraction come from?
From New Latin diffrāctiō (in which coined by Francesco Maria Grimaldi), from Latin diffrāctus, past participle of Latin diffringo (“to shatter, to break into pieces”).
Words that rhyme with diffraction
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of diffraction.
Questions about saying diffraction
How do you pronounce diffraction?
Say dih-FRAK-shun. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈfrækʃən/. In British English it is /dɪˈfrækʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in diffraction?
Diffraction has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FRAK). Broken into parts: dih · FRAK · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say diffraction the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈfrækʃən/ and the British form is /dɪˈfrækʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.