How to pronounce pronunciation
Say it like proh-nuhn-see-AY-shun. Pronunciation has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (AY).
- proh
- nuhn
- see
- AY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: The second syllable is 'nun', not 'noun': 'pruh-nun-see-AY-shun'.
Pronunciation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- prohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- nuhnGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
- seeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- AYSay 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 pronunciation
American and British speakers say pronunciation in essentially the same way: /proʊˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/ in the US and /prəˌnʌnsɪˈeɪʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: pruh-nuhn-sih-AY-shun.
What does pronunciation mean?
- The way in which a word, phrase, letter, character etc. is made to sound when spoken.“What is the pronunciation of "hiccough"?”
- The characteristic sounds of a particular language, accent, or individual's speech.“His Italian pronunciation is terrible.”
- The act of making a pronouncement or uttering a vocable.
Where does pronunciation come from?
From Middle English pronunciacioun, from Middle French prononciation, pronunciation, from Latin prōnūntiātiō, noun of action from perfect passive participle prōnūntiātus, from verb prōnūntiāre (“proclaim”), from prō- (“for”) + nūntiāre (“announce”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with pronunciation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of pronunciation.
Questions about saying pronunciation
How do you pronounce pronunciation?
Say proh-nuhn-see-AY-shun. The American pronunciation is /proʊˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/. In British English it is /prəˌnʌnsɪˈeɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in pronunciation?
Pronunciation has five syllables, and the main stress falls on the fourth one (AY). Broken into parts: proh · nuhn · see · AY · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say pronunciation the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /proʊˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/ and the British form is /prəˌnʌnsɪˈeɪʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.