Something that has been achieved successfully, typically through effort, skill, or courage; the act of completing or fulfilling a task, goal, or purpose.
Focus on 2-3 phonetic challenges: the second syllable stress shift (ac-COM-pli-ment), and the subtle /ɪ/ vs. /ə/ in the middle, plus the final /ənt/ vs. /mənt/ nuance.
Common mispronunciations: “ac-com-plish-ment” with too-even stress, or “ac-com-pli-sment,” and ending as /-mənt/ or /-mentt/.
Tips: place primary stress on the third syllable (ə-KUM-pliʃ-ment is okay; aim for /ˈæ.kɒm.plɪʃ.mənt/ in some accents). Keep the /ˈkʌm/ chunk tight, and finish with a clear /mənt/.
Quick check: say “a-KOM-pli-SH-ment” slowly, then speed up while maintaining the /ˈɪ/ vs. /ə/ contrast and the final /nt/.
Confidence cue: imagine presenting a proud milestone—your voice lands on the moment of achievement.
Master One Accent First
In all three accents, the word centers on the stressed second syllable: /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/.
US: the first syllable is a schwa /ə/, the second syllable carries primary stress, and the “u” in “kʌm” sounds like /ʌ/ as in "cut." The final “ment” is /mənt/ with a quick, almost syllabic /n/.
UK: similar structure, but you may hear a tighter jaw and crisper /t/ at the end; the vowel in “kʌm” stays /ʌ/, and the /ɪ/ in “plish” is a short, clipped /ɪ/.
Australia: often a flatter, broader intonation; the /ə/ at the start remains, the /ʌ/ stays central, and the final /mənt/ can be slightly more reduced, with a softer /t/.
Key contrasts: US often more rhotic and rounded vowels in surrounding words; UK and AU lean toward crisper consonants and slightly less vowel length in some speakers.
Usage Examples
"Earning a PhD is considered a major academic accomplishment."
formalacademic
"Finishing the marathon felt like a personal accomplishment."
informalpersonal achievement
"Her greatest accomplishment was founding the community center."
conversationalprofessional
"The moon landing remains humanity's most celebrated technological accomplishment."
formalhistorical
Word Etymology
From Old French 'acompliss-', stem of 'acomplir' (to fulfill), from Latin 'ad-' (to) + 'complere' (to fill up).
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Usage Notes
Help others use "accomplishment" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
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Related Words
Similar Meaning (Synonyms)
achievement
success
feat
triumph
attainment
💡 These words have similar meanings to "accomplishment" and can often be used interchangeably.
Opposite Meaning (Antonyms)
failure
defeat
setback
disappointment
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "accomplishment" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Rhyming Words
Words that rhyme with "accomplishment"
-ent sounds
embarrassment
establishment
enchantment
displacement
Pronunciation Practice
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
Pronunciation FAQ
The word "accomplishment" is pronounced /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/ with emphasis on the primary stressed syllable. Click the audio button above to hear the correct pronunciation.
"accomplishment" sounds like A-c-c-o-m-p-l-i-s-h-m-e-n-t. The pronunciation follows standard English pronunciation rules.
"accomplishment" is considered intermediate difficult to pronounce. This word may require some practice to master the correct pronunciation.
"accomplishment" is a noun. It refers to a person, place, thing, or concept.
The International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription for "accomplishment" is /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/. This provides the most accurate pronunciation guide using standardized phonetic symbols.
Common mistakes when pronouncing "accomplishment" include incorrect stress placement and mispronouncing vowel sounds. Listen to the audio example above to learn the correct pronunciation.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "accomplishment"!
Effective Practice Techniques
Practice the full pronunciation: /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/ by breaking it into syllables: a-ccom-pli-shment. Emphasize the second syllable: kooM-PLISH-ment with primary stress on the second syllable.
Shadowing: listen to native speakers saying “accomplishment” in sentences (e.g., “Her career accomplishment was remarkable”) and repeat in real time, mirroring intonation and pace.
Minimal pairs: contrast /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/ with /ˈækɒmplɪʃmənt/ (accented vs. unaccented confusion) and /əˈkʌm.plɪʃ.mənt/ to isolate syllable timing.
Rhythm practice: practice in 4-beat rhythm: a-COM-pli-shment, keeping a steady tempo; use metronome at 60–72 BPM.
Intonation: start with a slight rise on the stressed syllable (kʌm) and a fall after the final syllable to signal completion.
Stress pattern: secondary stress aligns before the /ˈkʌm/ segment; ensure the /m/ in “ment” is lightly released.
Delayed peak technique: say “accom-— plishment” with a micro-pause before the stressed syllable to reinforce emphasis.
Articulation drill: tongue-tips on alveolar ridge for /t/ in “ment”; avoid flapping, keep the /l/ clear.
Connected speech: link with following word (e.g., “accomplishment in”); practice between word boundaries to maintain fluency.
Recording feedback: record yourself and compare to a native model; adjust vowel length in /ɪ/ and the schwa in the first syllable.
Master the Pronunciation of "accomplishment"
How You Can Learn To Say "accomplishment" Better Engaging intro If you want to sound precise and credible when you talk about your goals, your “accomplishment” is a small but mighty word to nail. It signals effort, skill, and pride. With expert-level nuance, you can pronounce it cleanly, clearly, and with the natural rhythm native speakers expect. Word snapshot
Word: accomplishment
Definition: Something that has been achieved successfully, typically through effort, skill, or courage; the act of completing or fulfilling a task, goal, or purpose.
Part of speech: noun
IPA: /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/
Etymology note: From Old French acompliss- / acomplir, from Latin ad- + complere
Usage note: Often refers to completed achievements or acquired skills, and carries a sense of pride or recognition. Key pronunciation challenges for this word
Syllable count and stress: ac- COM- plish- ment. Primary stress on the second syllable: /ˈkʌm/ is actually pronounced with the preceding schwa, but the standard placement is on the second syllable: /əˈkʌm plɪʃ mənt/.
Initial weak vowel: The first syllable uses a schwa /ə/; avoid a strong “uh” that sounds forced.
Cluster after the stress: /ˈkʌmplɪʃ/ features a consonant cluster /mpl/ right after the stressed vowel. Some learners insert extra vowels or misplace the /l/ or /ʃ/.
Final syllable: /mənt/ flows quickly; avoid a hard, separate “ment.” The /n/ should be light; the /t/ is typically a soft, unreleased stop in connected speech. Practice techniques (practical and precise)
Minimal pair focus: compare /ˈkʌm/ vs /ˈkʊm/ and practice distinguishing “com-” vs “cum-” sounds in your mouth.
Chunk drills: practice “ac-com-pli-ment” with a light, quick tempo, then link to a following word: “accomplishment in leadership” or “accomplishment at work.”
Syllable tuning: say “uh-KUM-plish-ment” at a steady pace, then gradually compress to quick, natural delivery.
Stress shift practice: place the primary beat on the second syllable and articulate the rest with reduced vowels. Phonetic insights and tips
Vowel shaping: The main vowel in the stressed syllable is a short /ʌ/ (as in “strut”). Keep it short and bright, not dull.
Consonant timing: The sequence /mpl/ should be tight; avoid inserting vowels between /m/ and /p/ or misplacing /l/.
Linking: In fluent speech, the final /tə/ of “ment” often links to the next word, so “accomplishment is” sounds like /əˈkʌmplɪʃməntɪz/. Exercises to solidify mastery
Audio mirror: record yourself saying the word in isolation, then in a sentence: “This accomplishment set a new standard.” Compare to a high-quality pronunciation model.
Speed ladder: start slowly, then increase tempo while maintaining precise vowel quality and clean /mpl/ timing.
Mouth map: use fingertip placement to guide the /m/ and /p/ articulation, ensuring a crisp yet natural transition through /l/ and /ʃ/. Daily practice plan (2 weeks)
Day 1–3: isolate /əˈkʌmplɪʃmənt/ with precise stress; 5 minutes of repetition.
Day 4–7: add sentence frames; practice with 2–3 contexts per day.
Day 8–11: record and compare with a native model; adjust tone and rhythm.
Day 12–14: integrate into longer phrases and public-speech style practice; aim for fluid, confident delivery.
