How to pronounce olfaction
Say it like ohl-FAK-shun. Olfaction has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce olfaction. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- ohl
- FAK
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Olfaction pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- ohlKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- FAKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of olfaction
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: ohl-FAK-shun.
What does olfaction mean?
- The sense of smell; the detection of airborne molecules.
Where does olfaction come from?
Borrowed from Middle French olfaction /olefaction, from Latin olfactus, perfect passive participle of olfaciō (“to smell (transitive)”) + -tion.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with olfaction
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of olfaction.
- reaction
- interaction
- transaction
- satisfaction
- attraction
- fraction
- extraction
- distraction
- traction
- contraction
Questions about saying olfaction
How do you pronounce olfaction?
Say ohl-FAK-shun. The American pronunciation is /oʊlˈfækʃən/. In British English it is /əʊlˈfækʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in olfaction?
Olfaction has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAK). Broken into parts: ohl · FAK · shun.
Is olfaction pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /əʊlˈfækʃən/ (ohl-FAK-shun).