How to pronounce petition
Say it like puh-TISH-un. Petition has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TISH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce petition. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- puh
- TISH
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Petition pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- TISHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of petition
American and British speakers say petition in essentially the same way: /pəˈtɪʃən/ in the US and /pɪˈtɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: pih-TISH-un.
What does petition mean?
- a formal message requesting something that is submitted to an authority
- reverent petition to a deity
- write a petition for something to somebody; request formally and in writing
Where does petition come from?
From Middle English, borrowed from Old French peticiun, from stem of Latin petitio, petitionem (“a request, solicitation”), from petere (“to require, seek, go forward”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with petition
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of petition.
Questions about saying petition
How do you pronounce petition?
Say puh-TISH-un. The American pronunciation is /pəˈtɪʃən/. In British English it is /pɪˈtɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in petition?
Petition has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TISH). Broken into parts: puh · TISH · un.
Do Americans and Brits say petition the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /pəˈtɪʃən/ and the British form is /pɪˈtɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.