How to Pronounce “iteration”

American (US)

/ˌɪt.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/

British (UK)

/ˌɪt.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/

Australian (AU)

/ˌɪt.əˈɹæɪ.ʃən/

noun — A single pass through a loop or repeated process in computation.

Where the stress falls. “iteration” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˌɪt.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˌɪt.əˈɹeɪ.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 "iteration" mean?

iteration (noun): A single pass through a loop or repeated process in computation.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "iteration", /ˌɪt.əˈɹeɪ.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 "iteration"?

/ˌɪt.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ in American English, /ˌɪt.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ in British English, /ˌɪt.əˈɹæɪ.ʃən/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "iteration"?

“iteration” has 4 syllables, and the transcription /ˌɪt.əˈɹeɪ.ʃən/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the third one — so the third syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.