How to pronounce donation
Say it like doh-NAY-shun. Donation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce donation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- doh
- NAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Donation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- 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 donation
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: doh-NAY-shun.
What does donation mean?
- a voluntary gift (as of money or service or ideas) made to some worthwhile cause
- act of giving in common with others for a common purpose especially to a charity
Where does donation come from?
From Middle English donacion, donation, from Middle French donation, from Latin dōnātiō (“a present”), from dōnō (“to give”), from dōnum (“a gift”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with donation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of donation.
- information
- education
- situation
- association
- population
- station
- administration
- operation
- organization
- application
Questions about saying donation
How do you pronounce donation?
Say doh-NAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /doʊˈneɪʃən/. In British English it is /dəʊˈneɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in donation?
Donation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NAY). Broken into parts: doh · NAY · shun.
Is donation pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /dəʊˈneɪʃən/ (doh-NAY-shun).