How to pronounce lamentation
Say it like lam-un-TAY-shun. Lamentation 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 lamentation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- lam
- un
- TAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Lamentation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- lamGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- unKeep 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 lamentation
American and British speakers say lamentation in essentially the same way: /ˌlæmənˈteɪʃən/ in the US and /ˌlæmənˈteɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: lam-un-TAY-shun.
What does lamentation mean?
- The act of lamenting.
- A sorrowful cry; a lament.
- Specifically, mourning.
Where does lamentation come from?
Recorded since 1375, from Middle English lamentacioun, from Middle French lamentation and its etymon Latin lāmentātiō (“wailing, moaning, weeping”), from the deponent verb lāmentor, from lāmentum (“wail; wailing”), itself from a Proto-Indo-
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with lamentation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of lamentation.
Questions about saying lamentation
How do you pronounce lamentation?
Say lam-un-TAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌlæmənˈteɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌlæmənˈteɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in lamentation?
Lamentation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (TAY). Broken into parts: lam · un · TAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say lamentation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌlæmənˈteɪʃən/ and the British form is /ˌlæmənˈteɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.