How to pronounce occasional
Say it like uh-KAY-zhuh-nul. Occasional has four 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 occasional. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- uh
- KAY
- zhuh
- nul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Occasional 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.
- zhuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of occasional
American and British speakers say occasional in essentially the same way: /əˈkeɪʒənəl/ in the US and /əˈkeɪʒənəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: uh-KAY-zhuh-nul.
What does occasional mean?
- occurring from time to time“took an occasional glass of wine”
- occurring or appearing at usually irregular intervals“episodic in his affections”“occasional headaches”
- occurring on a temporary or irregular basis“casual employment”“a casual correspondence with a former teacher”
Where does occasional come from?
From Middle English occasyonal, from Medieval Latin occāsiōnālis and Old French ocasionel.
Questions about saying occasional
How do you pronounce occasional?
Say uh-KAY-zhuh-nul. The American pronunciation is /əˈkeɪʒənəl/. In British English it is /əˈkeɪʒənəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in occasional?
Occasional has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (KAY). Broken into parts: uh · KAY · zhuh · nul.
Do Americans and Brits say occasional the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /əˈkeɪʒənəl/ and the British form is /əˈkeɪʒənəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.