How to pronounce distraction
Say it like dih-STRAK-shun. Distraction has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STRAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce distraction. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- STRAK
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Distraction 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.
- STRAKSay 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 distraction
American and British speakers say distraction in essentially the same way: /dɪˈstrækʃən/ in the US and /dɪˈstrækʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-STRAK-shun.
What does distraction mean?
- mental turmoil“he drives me to distraction”
- an obstacle to attention
- an entertainment that provokes pleased interest and distracts you from worries and vexations
Where does distraction come from?
Borrowed from Middle French distraction, from Latin distractio.
Words that rhyme with distraction
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of distraction.
- reaction
- interaction
- transaction
- satisfaction
- attraction
- fraction
- extraction
- faction
- contraction
- dissatisfaction
Questions about saying distraction
How do you pronounce distraction?
Say dih-STRAK-shun. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈstrækʃən/. In British English it is /dɪˈstrækʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in distraction?
Distraction has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STRAK). Broken into parts: dih · STRAK · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say distraction the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈstrækʃən/ and the British form is /dɪˈstrækʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.