How to pronounce “interpolation”
Interpolation is pronounced /ˌɪˈtɜːrpəˌleɪʃən/. It has 5 syllables, and the beat falls on the second one — tɜːr. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 5 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting tɜːr in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern ōOoōo — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“interpolation” sound by sound
“interpolation” is built out of 10 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
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tTouch the tongue tip to the bumpy ridge just behind the upper teeth, block the air, then release it with a puff.
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ɜːrHold the tongue central and bunched or curled back for the whole vowel, with the R quality present from beginning to end — it is one continuous r-coloured vowel, not a vowel plus an /r/.
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pPress both lips together, build up air behind them, then release with a puff of air (aspiration) when the sound starts a stressed syllable.
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əDo almost nothing: leave the tongue in its neutral resting position, mouth slightly open, and make the shortest, weakest possible vowel.
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lTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth and let the voiced air flow around the sides of the tongue.
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eɪStart at the /e/ position and glide upward and forward toward /ɪ/ — the jaw closes as you say it.
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ʃPull the tongue slightly back from the /s/ position, spread the blade wide behind the ridge, round the lips a little, and push air through with no voice.
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əDo almost nothing: leave the tongue in its neutral resting position, mouth slightly open, and make the shortest, weakest possible vowel.
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nTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth, lower the soft palate, and voice the air out through the nose.
Questions people ask about “interpolation”
- How do you pronounce “interpolation”?
- “interpolation” is pronounced /ˌɪˈtɜːrpəˌleɪʃən/, with the stress on the second syllable (tɜːr). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “interpolation”?
- “interpolation” has 5 syllables: ɪ · tɜːr · pə · leɪ · ʃən. The stress pattern is ōOoōo.
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