How to pronounce suspension
Say it like suh-SPEN-shun. Suspension has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPEN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce suspension. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- suh
- SPEN
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Suspension 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.
- SPENSay 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 suspension
American and British speakers say suspension in essentially the same way: /səˈspɛnʃən/ in the US and /səˈspɛnʃən/ in the UK.
British respelling: suh-SPEN-shun.
What does suspension mean?
- a mixture in which fine particles are suspended in a fluid where they are supported by buoyancy
- a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something
- temporary cessation or suspension
Where does suspension come from?
Borrowed from Late Latin suspensiōnem (“arching, vaulting; suspension”), from suspendēre (“to hang up, to suspend”), from sub- (“under”) + pendere (“to hang, to suspend”), from Proto-Italic *pendō (“to hang, to put in a hanging position”),
Words that rhyme with suspension
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of suspension.
Questions about saying suspension
How do you pronounce suspension?
Say suh-SPEN-shun. The American pronunciation is /səˈspɛnʃən/. In British English it is /səˈspɛnʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in suspension?
Suspension has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPEN). Broken into parts: suh · SPEN · shun.
Do Americans and Brits say suspension the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /səˈspɛnʃən/ and the British form is /səˈspɛnʃən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.