Pronunciation Meaning
/pɹəˌnʌn.siˈeɪ.ʃn̩/Definition, CEFR level A2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe formal or informal way in which a word is made to sound when spoken.
nounThe way in which the words of a language are made to sound when speaking.
Sentence Examples
I still can't get the knack of English pronunciation.
Please correct my pronunciation.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The student practiced the correct ____ of the word 'comfortable' by repeating it after the recording.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The teacher corrected the student's ____ of the French word and asked her to repeat it.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English pronunciacioun, from Middle French prononciation, pronunciation, from Latin prōnūntiātiō, noun of action from perfect passive participle prōnūntiātus, from verb prōnūntiāre (“proclaim”), from prō- (“for”) + nūntiāre (“announce”). Doublet of pronuntiatio.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"☞ This word [earth] is liable to a coarſe vulgar pronunciation, as if written Urth;[…]"
— 1791, John Walker, A Critical Pronouncing Dictionary […] , London: Sold by G. G. J. and J. Robinſon, Paternoſter Row; and T. Cadell, in the Strand, →OCLC, page 211:
"In spite of the vague evidence, I think that we may conclude that ME ǭ, like ME ę̄, had two pronunciations during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, a more advanced pronunciation with close [oː], and a more conservative one with the ‘intermediate vowel’ [ɔː] […]"
— 1957, E[ric] J. Dobson, English pronunciation 1500-1700, second edition, volume II: Phonology, Oxford: Clarendon Press, published 1968, →OCLC, § 145, page 673:
"He, that would write exactly, muſt avoid a Barbarous Pronunciation, and conſider for facility, or thorow miſtake, many words are not ſounded after the beſt dialect. Such as […] Wun, one."
— 1687, Chriſtopher Cooper, “Chap. XIX: Of Barbarous Speaking”, in The Engliſh Teacher, London: John Richardſon, for the Author, pages 77-78; republished Menston: Scolar Press, 1969:
"The second part is the sentence, which is the judge's pronunciation upon a cause depending between two in controversy."
— 1831, Thomas Oughton, James Thomas Law, Forms of Ecclesiastical Law, page 62:
Explore More A2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The student practiced the correct ____ of the word 'comfortable' by repeating it after the recording.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The teacher corrected the student's ____ of the French word and asked her to repeat it.