How to pronounce sensational
Say it like sen-SAY-shuh-nul. Sensational has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce sensational. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- sen
- SAY
- shuh
- nul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Sensational pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- senKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- SAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- shuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- nulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of sensational
American and British speakers say sensational in essentially the same way: /sɛnˈseɪʃənəl/ in the US and /sɛnˈseɪʃənəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: sen-SAY-shuh-nul.
What does sensational mean?
- causing intense interest, curiosity, or emotion
- commanding attention“an arresting drawing of people turning into animals”“a sensational concert--one never to be forgotten”
- relating to or concerned in sensation“the sensory cortex”“sensory organs”
Where does sensational come from?
From sensation + -al.
Words that rhyme with sensational
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of sensational.
- educational
- operational
- recreational
- organizational
- inspirational
- occupational
- vocational
- computational
- gravitational
- motivational
Questions about saying sensational
How do you pronounce sensational?
Say sen-SAY-shuh-nul. The American pronunciation is /sɛnˈseɪʃənəl/. In British English it is /sɛnˈseɪʃənəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in sensational?
Sensational has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SAY). Broken into parts: sen · SAY · shuh · nul.
Do Americans and Brits say sensational the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /sɛnˈseɪʃənəl/ and the British form is /sɛnˈseɪʃənəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.