How to pronounce occupation
Say it like ah-kyuh-PAY-shun. Occupation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (PAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce occupation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ah
- kyuh
- PAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Occupation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ahGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- kyuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PAYSay 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 occupation
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: ok-yuu-PAY-shun.
What does occupation mean?
- the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money“he's not in my line of business”
- the control of a country by military forces of a foreign power
- any activity that occupies a person's attention“he missed the bell in his occupation with the computer game”
Where does occupation come from?
From Middle English occupacioun, borrowed from Middle French occupacion, occupation, from Latin occupātiō, occupātiōnis, from occupō (“occupy, seize”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kap- (“to seize, grab”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with occupation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of occupation.
Questions about saying occupation
How do you pronounce occupation?
Say ah-kyuh-PAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌɑkjəˈpeɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in occupation?
Occupation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (PAY). Broken into parts: ah · kyuh · PAY · shun.
Is occupation pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /ˌɒkjʊˈpeɪʃən/ (ok-yuu-PAY-shun).