How to pronounce treason
Say it like TREE-zun. Treason has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TREE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce treason. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- TREE
- zun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Treason pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- TREESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- zunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of treason
American and British speakers say treason in essentially the same way: /ˈtrizən/ in the US and /ˈtriːzən/ in the UK.
British respelling: TREE-zun.
What does treason mean?
- a crime that undermines the offender's government
- disloyalty by virtue of subversive behavior
- an act of deliberate betrayal
Where does treason come from?
From Middle English tresoun, treison, from Anglo-Norman treson, from Old French traïson (“treason”), from trair, or from Latin trāditiō (“a giving up, handing over, surrender, delivery, tradition”), from trādō (“give up, hand over, deliver
Words that rhyme with treason
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of treason.
Questions about saying treason
How do you pronounce treason?
Say TREE-zun. The American pronunciation is /ˈtrizən/. In British English it is /ˈtriːzən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in treason?
Treason has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (TREE). Broken into parts: TREE · zun.
Do Americans and Brits say treason the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈtrizən/ and the British form is /ˈtriːzən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.