How to pronounce hesitation
Say it like hez-uh-TAY-shun. Hesitation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce hesitation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- hez
- uh
- TAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Hesitation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- hezGive 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.
- TAYSay 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 hesitation
American and British speakers say hesitation in essentially the same way: /ˌhɛzəˈteɪʃən/ in the US and /ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: hez-ih-TAY-shun.
What does hesitation mean?
- indecision in speech or action
- a certain degree of unwillingness“a reluctance to commit himself”“his hesitancy revealed his basic indisposition”
- the act of pausing uncertainly“there was a hesitation in his speech”
Where does hesitation come from?
From Latin haesitātiōnem, accusative singular of haesitātiō (“hesitating, stammering”), from haesitō (“hesitate”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with hesitation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of hesitation.
Questions about saying hesitation
How do you pronounce hesitation?
Say hez-uh-TAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌhɛzəˈteɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in hesitation?
Hesitation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TAY). Broken into parts: hez · uh · TAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say hesitation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌhɛzəˈteɪʃən/ and the British form is /ˌhɛzɪˈteɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.