How to Pronounce National

To pronounce "national", say NAT-ion-al — 3 syllables, IPA /ˈnæʃ(ə)nəl/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

national

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Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

Practice: Record & Compare

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Syllables

Letters

/ˈnæʃ(ə)nəl/

IPA

💡 Tip for remembering “national”

"national" has 3 syllables: nat-ion-al. It rhymes with rational and irrational, if that helps it stick.

Sounds exactly like: nationale — easy to mix up when writing.

What does national mean?

noun

A subject of a nation.
“The diplomats were advised not to interact with any foreign nationals except on official duty.”
(usually in the plural) A tournament in which participants from all over the nation compete.
“After winning the regional tournament, the team advanced to the nationals.”

adjective

Of or having to do with a nation.
(by extension) Of or having to do with a country (sovereign state).
“Import tariffs were raised for the national interest.”

Hear “national” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with national

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

rational irrational transnational passional multinational binational supranational internacional international internatonal nationale

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "national"?▾

"National" has 3 syllables: nat · ion · al.

What is the IPA transcription of "national"?▾

The IPA transcription of "national" is /ˈnæʃ(ə)nəl/.

What does "national" mean?▾

National: A subject of a nation.

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