How to Pronounce “allocution”

British (UK)

/alə(ʊ)ˈkjuːʃən/

noun — A formal speech, especially one which is regarded as authoritative and forceful.

Where the stress falls. “allocution” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /alə(ʊ)ˈkjuːʃən/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the fourth one — so the fourth syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /alə(ʊ)ˈkjuːʃən/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "allocution" mean?

allocution (noun): A formal speech, especially one which is regarded as authoritative and forceful.

Which syllable is stressed in "allocution"?

“allocution” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /alə(ʊ)ˈkjuːʃən/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the fourth one — so the fourth syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.