How to pronounce prevention
Say it like pree-VEN-shun. Prevention has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce prevention. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pree
- VEN
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Prevention pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- preeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- VENSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of prevention
American and British speakers say prevention in essentially the same way: /priˈvɛnʃən/ in the US and /prɪˈvɛnʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: prih-VEN-shun.
What does prevention mean?
- the act of preventing“there was no bar against leaving”“money was allocated to study the cause and prevention of influenza”
Where does prevention come from?
From Middle English prevencion, from Medieval Latin prēventiō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with prevention
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of prevention.
Questions about saying prevention
How do you pronounce prevention?
Say pree-VEN-shun. The American pronunciation is /priˈvɛnʃən/. In British English it is /prɪˈvɛnʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in prevention?
Prevention has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VEN). Broken into parts: pree · VEN · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say prevention the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /priˈvɛnʃən/ and the British form is /prɪˈvɛnʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.