How to Pronounce “occasionally”

American (US)

/əˈkeɪʒənəli/

British (UK)

/əˈkeɪʒənəli/

adverb — On occasion: at relatively infrequent intervals, from time to time, sometimes.

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

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /əˈkeɪʒənəli/ 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 "occasionally" mean?

occasionally (adverb): On occasion: at relatively infrequent intervals, from time to time, sometimes.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "occasionally", /əˈkeɪʒənəli/, 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 "occasionally"?

/əˈkeɪʒənəli/ in American English, /əˈkeɪʒənəli/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "occasionally"?

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