How to pronounce generation
Say it like jen-uh-RAY-shun. Generation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce generation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- jen
- uh
- RAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Generation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- jenGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- RAYSay 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 generation
American and British speakers say generation in essentially the same way: /ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/ in the US and /ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: jen-uh-RAY-shun.
What does generation mean?
- all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age
- group of genetically related organisms constituting a single step in the line of descent
- the normal time between successive generations“they had to wait a generation for that prejudice to fade”
Where does generation come from?
Inherited from Middle English generacioun, from Old French generacion, and its etymon Latin generātiō, from generāre (“to beget, generate”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with generation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of generation.
Questions about saying generation
How do you pronounce generation?
Say jen-uh-RAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in generation?
Generation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (RAY). Broken into parts: jen · uh · RAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say generation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/ and the British form is /ˌdʒɛnəˈreɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.