How to pronounce selection
Say it like suh-LEK-shun. Selection has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce selection. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- suh
- LEK
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Selection pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- suhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- LEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of selection
American and British speakers say selection in essentially the same way: /səˈlɛkʃən/ in the US and /sɪˈlɛkʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: sih-LEK-shun.
What does selection mean?
- the act of choosing or selecting“your choice of colors was unfortunate”“you can take your pick”
- an assortment of things from which a choice can be made“the store carried a large selection of shoes”
- the person or thing chosen or selected“he was my pick for mayor”
Where does selection come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin sēlēctiō (“the act of choosing out, selection”), from sēligō (“choose out, select”), from sē- (“apart”) + legō (“gather, select”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with selection
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of selection.
Questions about saying selection
How do you pronounce selection?
Say suh-LEK-shun. The American pronunciation is /səˈlɛkʃən/. In British English it is /sɪˈlɛkʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in selection?
Selection has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEK). Broken into parts: suh · LEK · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say selection the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /səˈlɛkʃən/ and the British form is /sɪˈlɛkʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.