How to pronounce negation
Say it like nuh-GAY-shun. Negation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce negation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- nuh
- GAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Negation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- GAYSay 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 negation
American and British speakers say negation in essentially the same way: /nəˈɡeɪʃən/ in the US and /nəˈɡeɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: nuh-GAY-shun.
What does negation mean?
- The act of negating something.
- A denial or contradiction.
- A proposition which is the contradictory of another proposition and which can be obtained from that other proposition by the appropriately placed addition, or insertion, of the word "not". (Or, in symbolic logic, by prepending that proposition with the symbol for the logical operator "not".)
Where does negation come from?
From Middle English negacioun, from Old French negacion, from Latin negātiō (“a denial; negative word”).
Words that rhyme with negation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of negation.
Questions about saying negation
How do you pronounce negation?
Say nuh-GAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /nəˈɡeɪʃən/. In British English it is /nəˈɡeɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in negation?
Negation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GAY). Broken into parts: nuh · GAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say negation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /nəˈɡeɪʃən/ and the British form is /nəˈɡeɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.