How to pronounce direction
Say it like duh-REK-shun. Direction has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce direction. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- duh
- REK
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Direction pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- duhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- REKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of direction
American and British speakers say direction in essentially the same way: /dəˈrɛkʃən/ in the US and /daɪˈrɛkʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: dy-REK-shun.
What does direction mean?
- a line leading to a place or point“he looked the other direction”“didn't know the way home”
- the spatial relation between something and the course along which it points or moves“he checked the direction and velocity of the wind”
- a general course along which something has a tendency to develop“I couldn't follow the direction of his thoughts”“his ideals determined the direction of his career”
Where does direction come from?
From Middle English direccioun, from Old French direccion, from Latin dīrēctiō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with direction
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of direction.
Questions about saying direction
How do you pronounce direction?
Say duh-REK-shun. The American pronunciation is /dəˈrɛkʃən/. In British English it is /daɪˈrɛkʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in direction?
Direction has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (REK). Broken into parts: duh · REK · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say direction the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dəˈrɛkʃən/ and the British form is /daɪˈrɛkʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.