How to pronounce malfunction
Say it like mal-FUHNGK-shun. Malfunction has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FUHNGK).
- mal
- FUHNGK
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Malfunction pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- malKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- FUHNGKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of malfunction
American and British speakers say malfunction in essentially the same way: /mælˈfʌŋkʃən/ in the US and /ˌmælˈfʌŋkʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: mal-FUHNGK-shun.
What does malfunction mean?
- Faulty functioning.
- Failure to function.
- To function improperly.“She told him the machine was poorly built, but they both knew that she was the one who had malfunctioned.”
- To fail to function.
Where does malfunction come from?
From mal- (“bad, incorrect”) + function.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
- dysfunction
- misfunction
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with malfunction
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of malfunction.
Questions about saying malfunction
How do you pronounce malfunction?
Say mal-FUHNGK-shun. The American pronunciation is /mælˈfʌŋkʃən/. In British English it is /ˌmælˈfʌŋkʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in malfunction?
Malfunction has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FUHNGK). Broken into parts: mal · FUHNGK · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say malfunction the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /mælˈfʌŋkʃən/ and the British form is /ˌmælˈfʌŋkʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.