English pronunciation · Words Starting with A

Alliteration Pronunciation

Alliteration is pronounced uh-LI-ter-ay-shuhn, IPA /əˈlɪtɝˌeɪʃən/.

uh-LI-ter-ay-shuhn

US /əˈlɪtɝˌeɪʃən/  ·  UK /əˌlɪtəˈreɪʃən/

Syllables: uh · LI · ter · ay · shuhn (5 syllables, stress on syllable 2)

noun: The repeating of the same opening sound across nearby words.

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Alliteration in a Sentence

  • Alliteration is everywhere in advertising slogans.
  • The poem leans heavily on alliteration.
  • She pointed out the alliteration in the first line.

Common Mispronunciations of Alliteration

Not a-li-tuh-RAY-shuhn

American dictionaries put the main beat on the LI, earlier than most speakers expect from a five syllable word.

Not uh-LI-tuh-ray-shee-on

That tion at the end is a single shuhn. Nothing splits it, however long the run up.

Tip: British speakers usually put the weight on the RAY instead: uh-li-tuh-RAY-shuhn. Both are standard.

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