How to pronounce piston
Say it like PIS-tun. Piston has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce piston. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- PIS
- tun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Piston pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- PISSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- tunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of piston
American and British speakers say piston in essentially the same way: /ˈpɪstən/ in the US and /ˈpɪstən/ in the UK.
British respelling: PIS-tun.
What does piston mean?
- A solid disk or cylinder that fits inside a hollow cylinder, and moves under pressure (as in an engine) or displaces fluid (as in a pump)
- A valve device in some brass instruments for changing the pitch
- To move up and down or in and out like a piston.
Where does piston come from?
Borrowed from French piston.
Questions about saying piston
How do you pronounce piston?
Say PIS-tun. The American pronunciation is /ˈpɪstən/. In British English it is /ˈpɪstən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in piston?
Piston has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (PIS). Broken into parts: PIS · tun.
Do Americans and Brits say piston the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈpɪstən/ and the British form is /ˈpɪstən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.