How to pronounce emotion
Say it like EE-moh-shun. Emotion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce emotion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- EE
- moh
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Emotion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- EESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- mohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of emotion
- The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: ih-MOH-shun.
Other ways to say emotion
Emotion also has this pronunciation, usually with a different meaning or use:
- ih-MOH-shun /ɪˈmoʊʃən/
What does emotion mean?
- any strong feeling
Where does emotion come from?
Borrowed from Middle French emotion (modern French émotion), from émouvoir (“excite”), based on Latin ēmōtus, past participle of ēmoveō (“to move out, move away, remove, stir up, irritate”), from ē- (“out”) (variant of ex-), and moveō (“move”).
Questions about saying emotion
How do you pronounce emotion?
Say EE-moh-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˈiˌmoʊʃən/. In British English it is /ɪˈməʊʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in emotion?
Emotion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (EE). Broken into parts: EE · moh · shun.
Is emotion pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The stress moves: Americans stress syllable 1, while British speakers stress syllable 2. The British form is /ɪˈməʊʃən/ (ih-MOH-shun).