How to pronounce proportion
Say it like pruh-POR-shun. Proportion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (POR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce proportion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- pruh
- POR
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Proportion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- pruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- PORSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of proportion
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: pruh-PAW-shun.
What does proportion mean?
- the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
- magnitude or extent“a building of vast proportions”
- balance among the parts of something
- give pleasant proportions to“harmonize a building with those surrounding it”
- adjust in size relative to other things
Where does proportion come from?
From Middle English proporcion, from Old French proportion, from Latin prōportiō (“comparative relation, proportion, symmetry, analogy”), from pro (“for, before”) + portio (“share, part”); see portion.
Words that rhyme with proportion
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of proportion.
Questions about saying proportion
How do you pronounce proportion?
Say pruh-POR-shun. The American pronunciation is /prəˈpɔrʃən/. In British English it is /prəˈpɔːʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in proportion?
Proportion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (POR). Broken into parts: pruh · POR · shun.
Is proportion 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 /prəˈpɔːʃən/ (pruh-PAW-shun).