How to pronounce prohibition
Say it like proh-uh-BISH-un. Prohibition has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BISH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce prohibition. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- proh
- uh
- BISH
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Prohibition pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- prohGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- BISHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of prohibition
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: proh-hih-BISH-un.
What does prohibition mean?
- a law forbidding the sale of alcoholic beverages“in 1920 the 18th amendment to the Constitution established prohibition in the US”
- a decree that prohibits something
- the period from 1920 to 1933 when the sale of alcoholic beverages was prohibited in the United States by a constitutional amendment
Where does prohibition come from?
From Anglo-Norman and Old French prohibicion, from Latin prohibitiō.
Words that rhyme with prohibition
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of prohibition.
Questions about saying prohibition
How do you pronounce prohibition?
Say proh-uh-BISH-un. The American pronunciation is /ˌproʊəˈbɪʃən/. In British English it is /ˌprəʊhɪˈbɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in prohibition?
Prohibition has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (BISH). Broken into parts: proh · uh · BISH · un.
Is prohibition pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh". The British form is /ˌprəʊhɪˈbɪʃən/ (proh-hih-BISH-un).