How to pronounce population
Say it like pah-pyuh-LAY-shun. Population has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LAY).
- pah
- pyuh
- LAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Population pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pahGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- pyuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LAYSay 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 population
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: pop-yuu-LAY-shun.
What does population mean?
- The people living within a political or geographical boundary.“The population of New Jersey will not stand for this!”
- The people with a given characteristic.“India has the third-largest population of English-speakers in the world.”
- A count of the number of residents within a political or geographical boundary such as a town, a nation or the world.“The town’s population is only 243.”
Where does population come from?
Borrowed from Late Latin populatio (“a people, multitude”), as if a noun of action from Classical Latin populus, equivalent to populate + -ion.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with population
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of population.
Questions about saying population
How do you pronounce population?
Say pah-pyuh-LAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌpɑpjəˈleɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in population?
Population has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LAY). Broken into parts: pah · pyuh · LAY · shun.
Is population 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 /ˌpɒpjʊˈleɪʃən/ (pop-yuu-LAY-shun).