How to pronounce starvation
Say it like star-VAY-shun. Starvation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce starvation. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- star
- VAY
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Starvation pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- starKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- VAYSay 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 starvation
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: stah-VAY-shun.
What does starvation mean?
- a state of extreme hunger resulting from lack of essential nutrients over a prolonged period
- the act of depriving of food or subjecting to famine“the besiegers used starvation to induce surrender”“they were charged with the starvation of children in their care”
Where does starvation come from?
From starve + -ation.
Words that rhyme with starvation
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of starvation.
Questions about saying starvation
How do you pronounce starvation?
Say star-VAY-shun. The American pronunciation is /stɑrˈveɪʃən/. In British English it is /stɑːˈveɪʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in starvation?
Starvation has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VAY). Broken into parts: star · VAY · shun.
Is starvation 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 /stɑːˈveɪʃən/ (stah-VAY-shun).