How to pronounce Definition
Definition has 4 syllables. The stress is on the third syllable, "nih". Capital letters in the respelling show where the stress falls.
Say definition and check it
Free, in the browser, no account needed. The clip is checked and then deleted.
Press record, say "definition" once or twice at normal speed, then stop. You will see which syllables matched and what to change.
Definition syllables
Definition has 4 syllables: deh-fuh-NIH-shuhn.
- dehdɛ
- fuhfə
- NIHnɪ
- shuhnʃən
Stress "nish": def-ih-NISH-un.
Sounds to watch
Weak syllables
The unstressed syllables use a short, relaxed uh (schwa). Rushing through them lightly is correct; giving them a full vowel sounds unnatural.
Short i versus ee
The short i (as in sit) is shorter and more relaxed than ee. Many learners stretch it into ee, which changes the word.
The sh sound
Sh is made further back than s, with the lips slightly rounded and the tongue lower. Keep it separate from s: "shun" is not "sun".
Definition in a sentence
- Give me a one-sentence definition of the term before we continue.
- By definition, a prototype is not finished.
Read either sentence into the recorder above. The check judges only the target word, so the rest of the sentence can be rough.
What Speakeroo listens for
These are the pronunciation patterns from Speakeroo’s speech feature catalog that this target tends to expose. The check above reports the ones it hears.
- Stress placed on the wrong syllableMake the correct syllable longer, clearer and more prominent.
- 'sh' /ʃ/ too soft or unclearRound the lips slightly and produce continuous air along the centre of the tongue.
- Final consonant omittedHold the final mouth position briefly without adding another vowel.
- Schwa not reducedRelax unstressed vowels toward a short neutral sound.
- /ɪ/ and /iː/ confusedMake /iː/ higher, tenser and usually longer than /ɪ/.
Questions
How do you pronounce definition?
Definition is pronounced /ˌdɛ.fə.ˈnɪ.ʃən/, or deh-fuh-NIH-shuhn in plain letters. It has 4 syllables and the stress falls on the third syllable, "nih".
How many syllables are in definition?
4: deh-fuh-NIH-shuhn. The capital letters mark the stressed syllable.
How do you use definition in a sentence?
Give me a one-sentence definition of the term before we continue. By definition, a prototype is not finished.
Practice full sentences with feedback
Every practice mode is free and starts in your browser. A free account adds session history and progress tracking so you can see the same feedback improve over time.