Pronunciation: How to pronounce the ‘ON’ sound in English

The common letters ‘on’ are pronounced in different ways, based on their position in a word. Unfortunately, these changes can lead to hundreds of pronunciation errors.

You can avoid these errors by learning:

• what the changes are
• how to make them
• where most mistakes occur

By doing so, you can correct hundreds of errors very easily! The practice words below will help you improve your accent, produce more standardized speech, and be understood more easily in social, academic, business, and international contexts.

Improve Pronunciation & Avoid Errors

To warm up, and train your ear, read the words in sections 1, 2, and 3 out loud. Most English learners do not make mistakes in these sections.

1. At the beginning of words, on is usually pronounced like the word ‘on’, though there are exceptions:

• on
• onset
• onward
• onslaught
• onto
• online
• onlooker
• oncoming
• ongoing
• onscreen
• oncology
• onstage

2. At the end of words, on is sometimes pronounced like the word ‘on’:

• Amazon
• icon
• don
• nylon
• Teflon
• upon
• Exxon
• Lebanon

3. At the end of words, on is sometimes pronounced like un:

• son
• onion
• done
• ton

Now, read the words, names, and sentences in section 4, 5, and 6 below. Most English learners do make mistakes in these areas. Once you become aware of such words and practice saying them correctly, you will avoid thousands of errors in your lifetime. Listen to Rebecca’s lesson, as often as necessary, to train your ear and mouth to the sounds of English.

4. At the end of words, on is usually reduced and pronounced like əN or a quick n by itself. In the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA), this quick vowel sound is known as a “schwa”. It is an unstressed central vowel, represented by the symbol ə.

Places

• London
• Washington
• Boston
• Houston
• Lisbon
• Burlington
• Hamilton
• Madison
• Edmonton
• Kingston
• Dayton
• Newton
• Galveston
• Princeton
• Trenton
• Charleston
• Wilmington
• Winston
• Burlington
• Canton
• Brighton
• Stockton
• Arlington
• Lexington
• Southampton
• Bolton
• Preston
• Wellington

Companies

• Johnson & Johnson
• Canon
• Horizon
• Verizon
• Pearson
• Sheraton
• Carlton
• Hudson’s Bay

People

• Thomas Jefferson
• John Lennon
• Thomas Edison
• Dolly Parton
• Richard Burton
• Abraham Lincoln
• Johnny Carson
• Matt Damon
• Michael Jackson
• Richard Dawson
• George Harrison
• Mrs Robinson
• Jim Morrison
• The Simpsons
• Lester B Pearson
• Charles Bronson
• Eric Clapton
• Sheena Easton
• Don Johnson
• Ricky Nelson
• Jean Stapleton
• Flip Wilson
• Gordon Lightfoot
• Eric Burdon
• Watson
• Jason
• Allison
• Gibson
• Brandon
• Ashton
• Mason
• Adison

Other

• million
• billion
• weapon
• reason
• carton
• badminton
• button
• arson

5. Words ending in -tion or -sion are also pronounced like a quick n, with the schwa sound.

• situation
• action
• coalition
• motion
• vision
• explosion
• immersion
• confusion
• faction
• election
• exemption
• objection
• execution
• imagination
• vacation
• position

6. Sentences:

1. We’re in a difficult position.
2. There’s a lot of confusion.
3. He lives in London.
4. I have no objection.
5. They’re discussing immigration.
6. Did she make a decision?
7. What’s your vision?
8. It’s a tough situation.
9. I need English immersion!
10. Houston we’ve got a problem.
11. They formed a coalition.
12. Use your imagination.
13. Who won the election?
14. Did he give a reason?
15. They’re watching television.
16. Education is their top priority.
17. They learned addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
18. Is this the new version?
19. What’s his occupation?
20. She lives in London.