English pronunciation · Words Starting with I
Intonation Pronunciation
Intonation is pronounced in-tuh-NAY-shuhn, IPA /ˌɪntəˈneɪʃən/.
in-tuh-NAY-shuhn
US /ˌɪntəˈneɪʃən/ · UK /ˌɪntəˈneɪʃən/
Syllables: in · tuh · NAY · shuhn (4 syllables, stress on syllable 3)
noun: The rise and fall of the voice across a phrase.
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Intonation in a Sentence
- Her intonation turns every statement into a question.
- English marks doubt with intonation rather than with a particle.
- The intonation of the violins drifted in the heat.
Common Mispronunciations of Intonation
Not in-TOH-nay-shuhn
Tone hides in the spelling, but its long oh does not survive here. The second beat empties out to tuh.
Not IN-tuh-nay-shuhn
NAY is the peak, third of four, and the two beats in front of it stay light.
Tip: Intone keeps the long oh of tone, in-TOHN, and only the longer noun gives it up.
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