How to pronounce gestation
Say it like jeh-STAY-shun. Gestation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce gestation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- jeh
- STAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Gestation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- jehKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- STAYSay 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 gestation
American and British speakers say gestation in essentially the same way: /dʒɛˈsteɪʃən/ in the US and /dʒɛˈsteɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: jeh-STAY-shun.
What does gestation mean?
- The period of time during which an animal or human offspring physically develops inside the mother's body until it is born.
- The process of development of a plan or idea.
Where does gestation come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin gestātiō.
Words that rhyme with gestation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of gestation.
- information
- education
- situation
- association
- population
- administration
- operation
- organization
- nation
- application
Questions about saying gestation
How do you pronounce gestation?
Say jeh-STAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /dʒɛˈsteɪʃən/. In British English it is /dʒɛˈsteɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in gestation?
Gestation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STAY). Broken into parts: jeh · STAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say gestation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dʒɛˈsteɪʃən/ and the British form is /dʒɛˈsteɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.