How to pronounce preservation
Say it like prez-er-VAY-shun. Preservation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce preservation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- prez
- er
- VAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Preservation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- prezGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- VAYSay 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 preservation
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: prez-uh-VAY-shun.
What does preservation mean?
- the activity of protecting something from loss or danger
- the condition of being (well or ill) preserved
- a process that saves organic substances from decay
Where does preservation come from?
From Old French preservacion, from Medieval Latin preservatio.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with preservation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of preservation.
Questions about saying preservation
How do you pronounce preservation?
Say prez-er-VAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˌprɛzɚˈveɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌprɛzəˈveɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in preservation?
Preservation has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (VAY). Broken into parts: prez · er · VAY · shun.
Is preservation 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 /ˌprɛzəˈveɪʃən/ (prez-uh-VAY-shun).