Pronunciation

How to pronounce “function

“function” is pronounced /ˈfʌŋkʃən/ (FUNGK-shuhn) in American English and /fʌŋkʃən/ in British English — 2 syllables, stressed on “func”.
The sound

Say “function” in 2 beats

Say it like this

function

/ˈfʌŋkʃən/

The voice you hear here is American; the British form is /fʌŋkʃən/ (see the table below), and a British voice is available in the app's settings.

2 beats
  1. funcfʌŋkstress
  2. tionʃən
IPA (American)
/ˈfʌŋkʃən/
IPA (British)
/fʌŋkʃən/
Respelling
FUNGK-shuhn
Syllables
2 — FUNC-tion
Stress
Stress the first syllable: FUNC-tion. “func” is longer, louder and a step higher; the other syllable falls away from it.
Part of speech
noun, verb
Difficulty
Beginner — most learners get this on the first take
Accents

American and British are not the same here

American

/ˈfʌŋkʃən/

British

/fʌŋkʃən/

No audio here: sayit’s voice is American, so a British button would play the American word. Read the transcription instead.

Meaning

What “function” means

  1. noun

    (mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function)

  2. noun

    what something is used for

    the function of an auger is to bore holes

  3. noun

    the actions and activities assigned to or required or expected of a person or group

    the function of a teacher

Say it in a sentence

Each function takes one number and returns another.
Sound by sound

The sounds inside this word

7 sounds, in the order you say them

Each sound has its own page: where the tongue goes, what it is usually confused with, and words to drill it on.

Questions

function”, answered

How do you pronounce “function”?

“function” is pronounced /ˈfʌŋkʃən/ (FUNGK-shuhn) in American English and /fʌŋkʃən/ in British English — 2 syllables, stressed on “func”. Build it as FUNC-tion, then run the first syllable a little longer than the rest and let the others reduce.

How many syllables does “function” have?

2: func · tion. The beat lands on the first, “func”.

Is “function” said differently in British English?

Yes. American English says /ˈfʌŋkʃən/ (FUNGK-shuhn); British English says /fʌŋkʃən/. Both are correct — choose the accent you are learning and stay inside it.

What does “function” mean?

As a noun: (mathematics) a mathematical relation such that each element of a given set (the domain of the function) is associated with an element of another set (the range of the function) For example: “Each function takes one number and returns another.” It carries 2 other senses as well — all of them said the same way.

Where is the stress in “function”?

Stress the first syllable: FUNC-tion. “func” is longer, louder and a step higher; the other syllable falls away from it.

Practise this word

Now say “function” and see every sound

Record it once and sayit lines your audio up against the target sound by sound — what landed, what slipped, and what it sounded like instead.