---
title: "How to Pronounce Definition: IPA & Syllable Guide"
description: "Pronounce Definition as /ˌdɛ.fə.ˈnɪ.ʃən/ — deh-fuh-NIH-shuhn. Say it out loud and get free AI feedback in seconds. Stress falls on the third syllable."
url: "https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce/definition"
---

[How to pronounce](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce)

# How to pronounce Definition

/ˌdɛ.fə.ˈnɪ.ʃən/

deh-fuh-NIH-shuhn

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.

Accent

American English British English Australian English

Listen

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.

1. deh dɛ
2. fuh fə
3. NIH nɪ
4. shuhn ʃən

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 syllable Make the correct syllable longer, clearer and more prominent.
- 'sh' /ʃ/ too soft or unclear Round the lips slightly and produce continuous air along the centre of the tongue.
- Final consonant omitted Hold the final mouth position briefly without adding another vowel.
- Schwa not reduced Relax unstressed vowels toward a short neutral sound.
- /ɪ/ and /iː/ confused Make /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.

## More words like this

[diabetes](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce/diabetes) [diagnoses](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce/diagnoses) [dionysus](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce/dionysus) [analgesic](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce/analgesic) [anesthetic](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce/anesthetic) [antecedents](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce/antecedents) [The th sound](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce/th) [The d sound](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce/d) [-ed endings](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce/ed) [-s endings](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce/s) [-ds endings](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce/ds) [All words](https://speakeroo.app/how-to-pronounce) [Pronunciation practice](https://speakeroo.app/pronunciation-practice) [Tongue twisters](https://speakeroo.app/tongue-twisters)

## 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.

[Start a recording session](https://speakeroo.app/practice?mode=recording) Sign up for free