How to pronounce imagination
Say it like im-aj-uh-NAY-shun. Imagination has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (NAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce imagination. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- im
- aj
- uh
- NAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Imagination pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- imGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ajGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NAYSay 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 imagination
American and British speakers say imagination in essentially the same way: /ˌɪˌmædʒəˈneɪʃən/ in the US and /ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: ih-maj-ih-NAY-shun.
What does imagination mean?
- the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses“popular imagination created a world of demons”“imagination reveals what the world could be”
- the ability to form mental images of things or events“he could still hear her in his imagination”
- the ability to deal resourcefully with unusual problems“a man of resource”
Where does imagination come from?
From Middle English ymaginacioun, from Old French imaginacion, ymaginacion, from Latin imāginātiō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with imagination
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of imagination.
- information
- education
- situation
- association
- population
- station
- administration
- operation
- organization
- application
Questions about saying imagination
How do you pronounce imagination?
Say im-aj-uh-NAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪˌmædʒəˈneɪʃən/. In British English it is /ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in imagination?
Imagination has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (NAY). Broken into parts: im · aj · uh · NAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say imagination the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌɪˌmædʒəˈneɪʃən/ and the British form is /ɪˌmædʒɪˈneɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.