How to pronounce occasion
Say it like uh-KAY-zhun. Occasion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce occasion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- KAY
- zhun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Occasion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- KAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- zhunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of occasion
American and British speakers say occasion in essentially the same way: /əˈkeɪʒən/ in the US and /əˈkeɪʒən/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-KAY-zhun.
What does occasion mean?
- an event that occurs at a critical time“at such junctures he always had an impulse to leave”“it was needed only on special occasions”
- a vaguely specified social event“the party was quite an affair”“an occasion arranged to honor the president”
- reason“there was no occasion for complaint”
- give occasion to
Where does occasion come from?
From Middle English occasioun, from Middle French occasion, from Old French occasiun, from Latin occāsiōnem, noun of action from perfect passive participle occāsus, from verb occidō, from prefix ob- (“down", "away”) + verb cadō (“fall”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with occasion
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of occasion.
Questions about saying occasion
How do you pronounce occasion?
Say uh-KAY-zhun. The American pronunciation is /əˈkeɪʒən/. In British English it is /əˈkeɪʒən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in occasion?
Occasion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAY). Broken into parts: uh · KAY · zhun.
Do Americans and Brits say occasion the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈkeɪʒən/ and the British form is /əˈkeɪʒən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.