How to pronounce unison
Say it like YOO-nuh-sun. Unison has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YOO).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce unison. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- YOO
- nuh
- sun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Unison pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- YOOSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- nuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- sunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of unison
American and British speakers say unison in essentially the same way: /ˈjunəsən/ in the US and /ˈjuːnəsən/ in the UK.
British respelling: YOO-nuh-sun.
What does unison mean?
- Identical pitch between two notes or sounds; the simultaneous playing of notes of identical pitch (or separated by one or more octaves).“The unison has a pitch ratio of 1:1.”
- A sound or note having the same pitch as another, especially when used as the base note for an interval; a unison string.
- The state of being in harmony or agreement; harmonious agreement or togetherness, synchronization.“Everyone moved in unison, but the sudden change in weight distribution capsized the boat.”
Where does unison come from?
From Middle English unisoun, from Middle French unisson, from Medieval Latin ūnisonus (“having the same sound”), from ūni- + sonus (“sound”).
Questions about saying unison
How do you pronounce unison?
Say YOO-nuh-sun. The American pronunciation is /ˈjunəsən/. In British English it is /ˈjuːnəsən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in unison?
Unison has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (YOO). Broken into parts: YOO · nuh · sun.
Do Americans and Brits say unison the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈjunəsən/ and the British form is /ˈjuːnəsən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.