How to pronounce foundation
Say it like fown-DAY-shun. Foundation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce foundation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- fown
- DAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Foundation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- fownKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- DAYSay 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 foundation
American and British speakers say foundation in essentially the same way: /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/ in the US and /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: fown-DAY-shun.
What does foundation mean?
- the basis on which something is grounded“there is little foundation for his objections”
- an institution supported by an endowment
- lowest support of a structure“it was built on a base of solid rock”“he stood at the foot of the tower”
Where does foundation come from?
From Middle English foundacioun, fundacioun, from Old French fondacion, from Latin fundātiō (“founding, foundation”).
Words that rhyme with foundation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of foundation.
Questions about saying foundation
How do you pronounce foundation?
Say fown-DAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/. In British English it is /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in foundation?
Foundation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (DAY). Broken into parts: fown · DAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say foundation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/ and the British form is /faʊnˈdeɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.