How to pronounce privation
Say it like pry-VAY-shun. Privation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce privation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pry
- VAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Privation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pryKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- 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 privation
American and British speakers say privation in essentially the same way: /praɪˈveɪʃən/ in the US and /praɪˈveɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: pry-VAY-shun.
What does privation mean?
- The state of being deprived of or lacking an attribute formerly or properly possessed; the loss or absence of such an attribute.
- The state of being very poor, and lacking the basic necessities of life.
- The act of depriving someone of such basic necessities; deprivation.
Where does privation come from?
Inherited from Middle English privacioun, from Middle French privation, privacion, from Old French privacion, from Latin prīvātiō; compare French privation.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with privation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of privation.
Questions about saying privation
How do you pronounce privation?
Say pry-VAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /praɪˈveɪʃən/. In British English it is /praɪˈveɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in privation?
Privation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VAY). Broken into parts: pry · VAY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say privation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /praɪˈveɪʃən/ and the British form is /praɪˈveɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.