How to Pronounce “concatenation”

American (US)

/kɑnˌkæt.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

British (UK)

/kɑnˌkæt.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

noun — A series of links united; a series or order of things depending on each other, as if linked together; a chain, a succession.

Where the stress falls. “concatenation” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /kɑnˌkæt.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ 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. /kɑnˌkæt.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ 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 "concatenation" mean?

concatenation (noun): A series of links united; a series or order of things depending on each other, as if linked together; a chain, a succession.

How do you pronounce "concatenation" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "concatenation", /kɑnˌkæt.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "concatenation"?

/kɑnˌkæt.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ in American English, /kɑnˌkæt.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "concatenation"?

“concatenation” has 5 syllables, and the transcription /kɑnˌkæt.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/ 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.