How to Pronounce PRONUNCIATION in American English

In this American English pronunciation video, we're going to go over the pronunciation of

the word 'pronunciation'.

This week's Word of the Week is 'pronunciation'. 'Pronunciation' is a noun, and sometimes people

will mix up the pronunciation between this and the verb 'pronounce'. Pronounce, pronun-.

So the second syllable should have the UH vowel and not the OW diphthong. It's a five-syllable

word with a secondary stress on the second syllable and primary stress on the fourth

syllable. Pro-nun-ci-a-tion. Pronunciation.

It begins with the PR consonant cluster, so the lips are together, pr-, and the tongue

is in position for the R, pr-, pr-, pronun-. We have the schwa in that first, unstressed

syllable. Then the next syllable, with secondary stress, we have the N consonant sound. So

the tongue will lift, and touch the roof of the mouth here, pronun-. Then we have the

UH as in BUTTER sound. Everything is relaxed. The tongue isn't engaged, the lips aren't

engaged. The jaw drops a bit. Pronun-, pronun-. To finish the syllable, the tongue comes back

up to the roof of the mouth for another N. Pronun-. Then we have another unstressed syllable:

-si-, -si-, -si-. The S consonant sound and the EE as in SHE vowel. Pronunci-, pronunci-.

Now we have the primarily stressed syllable: pronuncia-. It has the AY as in SAY diphthong.

The jaw does need to drop a good bit for that sound. Pronunciation. Then we have the SH,

schwa, N unstressed final syllable. -tion, -tion. It will be very fast. -tion, -tion.

And you don't need to worry about making a separate schwa sound. The N takes over the

schwa sound a bit. -tion, -tion. Pronunciation. Pronunciation.

Your pronunciation is very good.

That's it, your Word of the Week. Try it out yourself. Make up a sentence with the

word, record it, and post it as a video response to this video on YouTube. I can't wait to

watch it.

That's it, and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.