abortion

Pronounce as ə-BAWR-shən in US and UK accents, with primary stress on the second syllable: /əˈbɔːr.ʃən/ (US), /əˈbɔː.tɪən/ is older British variants but less common; a common UK form is /əˈbɔː.ʃən/. The first syllable is a schwa, the second features an open back rounded vowel like 'baw', and the final syllable is a weak /ən/ or /n/ cluster. Keep the /r/ pronounced in rhotic varieties; in non-rhotic British speech, the /r/ is less pronounced or silent before a vowel. Audio references: consult Cambridge or Oxford dictionaries for pronunciation audio.”,

Common errors include misplacing stress (saying a-BOR-tion with incorrect stress) and mispronouncing /ɔː/ as /ɒ/ or /ɑː/. Some learners drop the /r/ in non-rhotic accents or turn /t/ into a flap, producing a-bor-SHən. Correction tips: place main stress on the second syllable and maintain a clear /r/ in rhotic accents. Practice the second syllable with /ɔː/ or /ɔːr/ depending on your variant, then finish with a crisp /ʃən/ or /ʃən/ sequence.”,

In US accents, you hear /əˈbɔːr.ʃən/ with a pronounced rhotic /r/ and clear /ɔː/ in the stressed syllable. UK RP tends toward /əˈbɔː.ʃən/ where /r/ is not pronounced before a following vowel, and some speakers may reduce the /ɔː/ to a more centralized vowel. Australian English typically /əˈbɔː.ʃən/ with strong fit in /ɔː/ but similar rhotic tendencies to US in careful speech. The main differences come from rhoticity, vowel length, and linking patterns.”,

The difficulty arises from the combination of a stressed closed syllable with /ɔː/ vowel that can vary regionally, plus the final /ʃən/ sequence that includes a postalveolar fricative followed by a schwa or syllabic n. For non-native speakers, producing the mid-back rounded vowel and the crisp /ʃ/ can be challenging, as well as coordinating the syllable boundary between /bɔːr/ and /ʃən/ in rapid speech. Working on the transition from the /r/ into /ʃ/ helps maintain a natural flow.”,

The unique challenges include the schwa- or reduced vowel in the first syllable, a strong stressed /ɔː/ vowel in the second syllable, and the /r/ followed by /ʃ/ in the onset of the final syllable. This triad of sounds—stressed back rounded vowel, rhotic or non-rhotic /r/, and the /ʃ/ + /ən/ sequence—requires careful timing and mouth shaping. Visualizing the tongue position as you move from /ɔː/ to /r/ to /ʃ/ can help you hit each segment cleanly.