How to pronounce friction
Say it like FRIK-shun. Friction has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FRIK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce friction. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- FRIK
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Friction pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- FRIKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of friction
American and British speakers say friction in essentially the same way: /ˈfrɪkʃən/ in the US and /ˈfrɪkʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: FRIK-shun.
What does friction mean?
- a state of conflict between persons
- the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
- effort expended in moving one object over another with pressure
Where does friction come from?
From Middle French friction and directly from Latin frictionem, nom.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with friction
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of friction.
Questions about saying friction
How do you pronounce friction?
Say FRIK-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˈfrɪkʃən/. In British English it is /ˈfrɪkʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in friction?
Friction has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (FRIK). Broken into parts: FRIK · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say friction the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈfrɪkʃən/ and the British form is /ˈfrɪkʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.