How to pronounce scansion
Say it like SKAN-shun. Scansion has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKAN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce scansion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- SKAN
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Scansion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- SKANSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of scansion
American and British speakers say scansion in essentially the same way: /ˈskænʃən/ in the US and /ˈskænʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: SKAN-shun.
What does scansion mean?
- The rhythm or meter of a line or verse.
- The act of analyzing the meter of poetry.
- Of text, to put into a rhythmic form or meter.
- To impose patterns on.
Where does scansion come from?
From Late Latin scansiōnem, accusative singular of scansiō (“the act of climbing”), from scandō (“to climb”).
Words that rhyme with scansion
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of scansion.
Questions about saying scansion
How do you pronounce scansion?
Say SKAN-shun. The American pronunciation is /ˈskænʃən/. In British English it is /ˈskænʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in scansion?
Scansion has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (SKAN). Broken into parts: SKAN · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say scansion the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈskænʃən/ and the British form is /ˈskænʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.