How to pronounce prescription
Say it like pruh-SKRIP-shun. Prescription has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKRIP).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce prescription. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pruh
- SKRIP
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Starts with 'pre', not 'per': 'prih-SKRIP-shun'.
Prescription pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- SKRIPSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of prescription
American and British speakers say prescription in essentially the same way: /prəˈskrɪpʃən/ in the US and /prɪˈskrɪpʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: prih-SKRIP-shun.
What does prescription mean?
- directions prescribed beforehand; the action of prescribing authoritative rules or directions“I tried to follow her prescription for success”
- a drug that is available only with written instructions from a doctor or dentist to a pharmacist“he told the doctor that he had been taking his prescription regularly”
- written instructions for an optician on the lenses for a given person
- available only with a doctor's written prescription“a prescription drug”
Where does prescription come from?
Borrowed from Middle French, from Old French prescripcion, from Latin praescriptio (“preface; pretext; something written ahead of time”), from prae- (“pre-, before”) + scribere (“to write”) + -tio (“-tion, forming nouns”).
Words that rhyme with prescription
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of prescription.
Questions about saying prescription
How do you pronounce prescription?
Say pruh-SKRIP-shun. The American pronunciation is /prəˈskrɪpʃən/. In British English it is /prɪˈskrɪpʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in prescription?
Prescription has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKRIP). Broken into parts: pruh · SKRIP · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say prescription the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /prəˈskrɪpʃən/ and the British form is /prɪˈskrɪpʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.