Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

modulation

/ˌmɑd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.29 in modern English

Syllables
mod-ul-at-ion
IPA
/ˌmɑd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən/
13
Scrabble Score
10
Letters
4
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

Changing of a thing from one form to another; (countable) an instance of this.

Uncountable

Example Sentences

Etymology

From Late Middle English modulacion, modulacioun (“act of making music or singing; harmony; melody, song”), from Middle French modulation (modern French modulation), and directly from its etymon Latin modulātiō (“regular or rhythmical measure, modulation; inflection of tone; (architecture) calculation of measurements from a standard unit; (Late Latin) act of making music or singing; melody, song”), from modulātus (“modulated”) + -iō (suffix forming abstract nouns from verbs). Modulātus is a perfect participle of modulor (“to beat time; to make music or sing; to measure; etc.”), from modulus (“rhythmical measure, interval; rhythm; small interval or measure, etc.”) + -or (suffix forming certain inflections of verbs); and modulus is from modus (“measure; method; etc.”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *med- (“to measure; etc.”)) + -ulus (diminutive suffix). By surface analysis, modulat(e) + -ion (suffix denoting an action or process, or its result).

Origin

Word Breakdown

  • Root: *med-, modulacion, modulation, modulātiō

Regional Pronunciation

  • American English: /ˌmɑd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən/
  • British English: /ˌmɒdjʊˈleɪʃn̩/

Usage

Inflected Forms

Derived Forms

Phrases

Frequently Paired Words

Synonyms

Rhymes With

Questions

How do you pronounce modulation?
The recorded pronunciation is /ˌmɑd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən/.
What does modulation mean?
Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.
Where does modulation come from?
It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce modulation

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “modulation”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˌmɑd͡ʒəˈleɪʃən/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
  3. Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “modulation”.
  4. Repeat and practice — Say “modulation” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.