How to pronounce octavation
Say it like OK-tuh-vay-shun. Octavation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce octavation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- OK
- tuh
- vay
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Octavation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- OKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- vayKeep this part quick and light. 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 octavation
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: OK-tuh-vay-shun.
What does octavation mean?
- Transposition by an octave.
- Normalization of a numerical ratio by repeated multiplication or division by 2.
- The relationship between two planets that are distant from each other by one eighth of a great circle (45.625 degrees)
Where does octavation come from?
First attested in 1922; probably formed as octav(e) + -ation, but compare octavate.
Questions about saying octavation
How do you pronounce octavation?
Say OK-tuh-vay-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˈɑktəveɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˈɒktəveɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in octavation?
Octavation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (OK). Broken into parts: OK · tuh · vay · shun.
Is octavation 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 /ˈɒktəveɪʃən/ (OK-tuh-vay-shun).