pronunciation
noun
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Is it 'pronunciation' or 'pronounciation'?
Among the various letters and emails we receive from correspondents asking for pronunciation help are a number in which pronunciation is spelled pronounciation. The confusion is understandable: the verb is pronounce, so why shouldn’t the noun be pronounciation? Both the noun and verb come ultimately from the Latin verb pronuntiare. But when the Latin verb was taken into Anglo-French and later entered Middle English, that second vowel was sometimes rendered as -u- and sometimes rendered as -ou-. This means that, from about the 1500s onward, we see evidence of both pronounciation and pronunciation in the written record. Eventually, the noun standardized to pronunciation, but because of influence from pronounce, we occasionally still see pronounciation in print, and encounter a corresponding pronunciation for pronounciation (\pruh-nown-see-AY-shun\). These facts notwithstanding, the pronounciation spelling and the pronunciation that goes with it are not considered a part of standard English, and may open one criticism or questioning.
Examples of pronunciation in a Sentence
Jake Richardson, Mercury News, 28 Apr. 2025
Training includes varietal pronunciation, flavor notes and food pairing suggestions.
—Rachel King, Forbes.com, 19 Apr. 2025
Babbel’s speech recognition technology gives you real-time feedback to improve pronunciation.
—Donna Enzmann, Miami Herald, 3 Mar. 2025
If their tenses, verbs, or pronunciation are off, don't jump to correct or criticize them.
—Holly Garcia, Parents, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pronunciation
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'Mispronunciations' That May Be Fine
'Mischievous,' 'nuclear,' and other words to pronounce with caution.
Cite this Entry
“Pronunciation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pronunciation. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
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pronunciation
noun
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