How to pronounce expansion
Say it like ik-SPAN-shun. Expansion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce expansion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ik
- SPAN
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Expansion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ikKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- SPANSay 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 expansion
American and British speakers say expansion in essentially the same way: /ɪkˈspænʃən/ in the US and /ɪkˈspænʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: ik-SPAN-shun.
What does expansion mean?
- the act of increasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope
- a function expressed as a sum or product of terms“the expansion of (a+b)^2 is a^2 + 2ab + b^2”
- a discussion that provides additional information
Where does expansion come from?
Borrowed from French expansion, from Latin expānsiō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with expansion
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of expansion.
Questions about saying expansion
How do you pronounce expansion?
Say ik-SPAN-shun. The American pronunciation is /ɪkˈspænʃən/. In British English it is /ɪkˈspænʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in expansion?
Expansion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPAN). Broken into parts: ik · SPAN · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say expansion the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ɪkˈspænʃən/ and the British form is /ɪkˈspænʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.