How to pronounce duration
Say it like DUUR-AY-shun. Duration has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DUUR).
- DUUR
- AY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Duration pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DUURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in book.
- AYSay 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 duration
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2.
British respelling: dyuu-RAY-shun.
What does duration mean?
- An amount of time or a particular time interval.“The duration of the flight will be about 2 hours 45 minutes.”
- The time taken for the current situation to end, especially the current war.“Rationing will last at least for the duration.”
- A measure of the sensitivity of the price of a financial asset to changes in interest rates, computed for a simple bond as a weighted average of the maturities of the interest and principal payments associated with it.
Where does duration come from?
From Middle English duracioun, from late Old French duracion, from Medieval Latin dūrātiō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with duration
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of duration.
Questions about saying duration
How do you pronounce duration?
Say DUUR-AY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˈdʊˈreɪʃən/. In British English it is /djʊˈreɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in duration?
Duration has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DUUR). Broken into parts: DUUR · AY · shun.
Is duration pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2. The British form is /djʊˈreɪʃən/ (dyuu-RAY-shun).