How to pronounce ordination
Say it like or-duh-NAY-shun. Ordination has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce ordination. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- or
- duh
- NAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Ordination pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- orGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- duhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- NAYSay 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 ordination
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: aw-dih-NAY-shun.
What does ordination mean?
- The act of ordaining or the state of being ordained.
- The ceremony in which a priest is consecrated, considered a sacrament in the Catholic and Orthodox churches.
- the ceremony in which a bhikkhu or bhikkhuni is ordained into the sangha
Where does ordination come from?
From Middle French ordination, from Old French ordinacion, from Latin ordinatio.
Words that rhyme with ordination
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of ordination.
- information
- education
- situation
- association
- population
- station
- administration
- operation
- organization
- application
Questions about saying ordination
How do you pronounce ordination?
Say or-duh-NAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌɔrdəˈneɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌɔːdɪˈneɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in ordination?
Ordination has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NAY). Broken into parts: or · duh · NAY · shun.
Is ordination pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌɔːdɪˈneɪʃən/ (aw-dih-NAY-shun).