How to pronounce excavation
Say it like ek-skuh-VAY-shun. Excavation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce excavation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ek
- skuh
- VAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Excavation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ekGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- skuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- VAYSay 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 excavation
American and British speakers say excavation in essentially the same way: /ˌɛkskəˈveɪʃən/ in the US and /ˌɛkskəˈveɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: ek-skuh-VAY-shun.
What does excavation mean?
- The act of excavating, or of making hollow, by cutting, scooping, or digging out a part of a solid mass.
- Especially, the trade of digging engineered holes for building foundations, roadbed preparations, and similar purposes.
- A cavity formed by cutting, digging, or scooping.
Where does excavation come from?
From Latin excavātiō (“a hollowing out”), from excavō (“to hollow out”), from ex + cavō (“to hollow out”), from cavus (“hollow”), from Proto-Indo-European *ḱewh₁- (“vault, hole”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with excavation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of excavation.
Questions about saying excavation
How do you pronounce excavation?
Say ek-skuh-VAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌɛkskəˈveɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌɛkskəˈveɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in excavation?
Excavation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VAY). Broken into parts: ek · skuh · VAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say excavation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɛkskəˈveɪʃən/ and the British form is /ˌɛkskəˈveɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.