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.