pronunciation
gb/pɹoʊnˌʌnsiˈeɪʃən/ us/pɹoʊnˌʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
B1
English
~ 8900
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
the way a word is said
How you say a word, name, or language with your mouth.
Usage pattern:
the pronunciation of [a word/name]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the noun "pronunciation" with the verb "pronounce" and say things like *How to pronunciation this word?* instead of *How do you pronounce this word?* or *What is the pronunciation of this word?*. Another common mistake is spelling it like the verb (*pronounciation*), which is incorrect.
Synonyms
way of saying (Informal multi-word phrase focusing on how a word is spoken.)
|
articulation (More technical; often refers to how speech sounds are formed in the mouth.)
Antonyms
mispronunciation (Refers to saying a word in a wrong or unnatural way.)
Collocations
correct pronunciation
|English pronunciation
|standard pronunciation
|native pronunciation
|learn the pronunciation
|the pronunciation of a word
Themes
language
|education
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The pronunciation of "schedule" is different in British and American English.
- If you're not sure about a pronunciation, check an online dictionary.
- Her pronunciation of French words is excellent.
- That video teaches the correct pronunciation of common brand names.
- Over time, the pronunciation of some words changes.
Learner examples
- I often forget the pronunciation of this word.
- Please check my pronunciation of your name.
- The teacher writes the pronunciation on the board.
- This app helps you learn the pronunciation of English words.
Noun
B1
property
2
someone’s way of speaking words
How well a person usually says the sounds of a language, for example clear or not clear, like or unlike a native speaker.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s pronunciation
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *I want to practice my speak* instead of *I want to practice my pronunciation*. They also sometimes say *I have a good accent* when they mean *I have good pronunciation*; "accent" is not always positive, but "good pronunciation" clearly is.
Synonyms
accent (Often refers to regional or national speech patterns, not only to correctness.)
|
enunciation (More formal; stresses how clearly and distinctly someone forms sounds.)
Antonyms
poor pronunciation (Describes pronunciation that is unclear, hard to understand, or often wrong.)
Collocations
good pronunciation
|bad pronunciation
|clear pronunciation
|improve your pronunciation
|work on your pronunciation
|native-like pronunciation
Themes
language
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Your pronunciation has improved a lot this semester.
- His pronunciation is very clear, even when he speaks fast.
- The teacher said my pronunciation is good but my grammar needs work.
- Living abroad really helped her pronunciation of English.
- He has excellent pronunciation, but his vocabulary is still limited.
Learner examples
- I want to have better pronunciation.
- My teacher says my pronunciation is hard to understand.
- We practice pronunciation in every class.
- Her pronunciation sounds like a native speaker.
Noun
technical
B2
entity
3
phonetic form shown in writing
The special written form in a dictionary that shows you how to say a word.
Usage pattern:
dictionary pronunciation of [a word]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse pronunciation symbols with spelling and expect them to use normal alphabet letters. They may also not realize that a single word can have more than one written pronunciation in a dictionary.
Synonyms
phonetic transcription (More technical; clearly refers to the written phonetic symbols themselves.)
Antonyms
spelling (Contrasts the written letters of a word with the written symbols that show how it sounds.)
Collocations
dictionary pronunciation
|phonetic pronunciation
|pronunciation guide
|pronunciation key
|show the pronunciation
Themes
language
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- In this dictionary, each entry includes the pronunciation in IPA.
- The pronunciation given in the textbook does not match how people actually say it.
- You can tap the word to see its pronunciation and hear the audio.
Learner examples
- The pronunciation is written next to the word.
- I don't understand the pronunciation symbols in this book.
- This app shows the pronunciation for every new word.
Grammar
Dictionary form
pronunciation
IPA
GB/pɹoʊnˌʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
US/pɹoʊnˌʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
pro - nun - ci - ation (4 syllables)
Stress on 4th syllable (ation)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: pronunciation
- Plural: pronunciation, pronunciations
Word family
Forms
pronunciations
noun
Core family
pronounce
verb A2
Related words
pronounceable
adjective
pronouncement
noun
Negative and opposite forms
mispronounce
verb
mispronunciation
noun
unpronounceable
adjective
Expressions
bad pronunciation
1/bˈæd pɹoʊnˌʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
unclear or incorrect way of speaking
Pronunciation that is hard to understand or different from how people usually say the words.
Examples
- My bad pronunciation makes it difficult for people to understand me.
- He worries that his bad pronunciation will affect his job interviews.
correct pronunciation
1/kɚˈɛkt pɹoʊnˌʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
standard accepted way to say a word
The way most educated native speakers usually say a word.
Examples
- This video teaches the correct pronunciation of difficult English names.
- Please tell me the correct pronunciation of this medical term.
good pronunciation
1/ɡˈʊd pɹoʊnˌʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
clear and correct way of speaking
Pronunciation that is easy to understand and close to how native speakers say words.
Examples
- She has very good pronunciation for someone who started learning last year.
- The teacher praised his good pronunciation but told him to learn more words.
native-like pronunciation
1/nˈeɪtɪv lˈaɪk pɹoʊnˌʌnsiˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
pronunciation close to native speakers
Pronunciation that sounds almost the same as a person who was born speaking the language.
Examples
- After many years abroad, she developed a native-like pronunciation.
- Few learners reach native-like pronunciation, but many can become very clear and natural.
pronunciation guide
1/pɹoʊnˌʌnsiˈeɪʃən ɡˈaɪd/
fixed phrase
section that explains how to say words
A part of a book, dictionary, or website that shows you how to pronounce words.
Examples
- Check the pronunciation guide at the front of the dictionary.
- The app includes a pronunciation guide with audio examples.
pronunciation key
1/pɹoʊnˌʌnsiˈeɪʃən kˈi/
fixed phrase
technical
explanation of symbols for sounds
A small table that explains the special symbols used to show pronunciation in a dictionary.
Examples
- Look at the pronunciation key to understand the symbols in this dictionary.
- The pronunciation key tells you how to read the phonetic script.