Afflictions are conditions or diseases that cause pain or suffering, or the state of being affected by negative influences. The term often denotes chronic or serious hardships rather than acute injuries, framing the body or mind as being afflicted by illness, misfortune, or harmful forces. In discourse, it can also describe social or personal afflictions that burden someone’s well-being.
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- You’ll often mispronounce the second syllable with a longer /ɪ/ or misplace stress, leading to af-FLICK-tions instead of ə-FLICK-tions. To fix: practice the exact stressed syllable with a quick, clipped /ɪ/ and ensure the stress remains on syllable 2. - The sequence /flɪk/ can blur; clearly articulate /f/ + /l/ without vowels bleeding into the /l/. - Final -tions may sound like -shənz or -ʃənz; practice the two pronunciations in context to choose the right form.
- US: emphasize rhoticity in connected speech; the 'a' in the first syllable is a reduced schwa, not a full vowel. - UK: keep a crisp /flɪk/ with a slightly clearer /t/ before /ʃənz/. - AU: more relaxed vowel quality, still crisp /flɪk/; preserve the /ʃənz/ cluster to avoid blending. - IPA anchors: /əˈflɪk.ʃənz/; ensure your lips round minimally for the /ɒ/ vs /ə/ distinction; keep tongue high for /ɪ/ and ensure /t/ is released before /ʃ/.
"The town has faced many afflictions since the drought began, including crop failure and water shortages."
"She spoke openly about her afflictions, hoping to raise awareness and reduce stigma."
"The poet described society’s afflictions as invisible wounds that never fully heal."
"New vaccination programs aim to lessen the afflictions caused by preventable diseases."
Affliction comes from Middle English affliccioun, from Old French affliction, from Latin afflictio(n-), from affligere “to strike down, injure, weaken,” from ad- “toward” + fligere “to strike, break.” The sense drifted from physical injury to moral or emotional suffering, then to prolonged trouble or misery as reflected in 16th–18th century texts. The root fligere appears in many Romance languages with related meanings of striking or breaking. By the 17th century, affliction broadened to include the source or experience of pain, misfortune, or hardship, not just bodily harm, aligning with medical and social vocabulary. This evolution mirrors the shift in English to describe abstract states of “being afflicted” as well as concrete ailments. First known usage in English appears in writings influenced by Latin and Old French, with established spelling and pronunciation stabilizing in Early Modern English. The word has maintained its core sense of harmful influence or suffering while expanding to include psychological and social contexts in contemporary usage. Across centuries, affliction has remained a formal, sometimes scholarly term, often appearing in medical, religious, and literary registers to denote ongoing hardship rather than episodic injury.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "afflictions" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "afflictions" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "afflictions"
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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.
Pronounce as af-FLICK-tions, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU əˈflɪk.ʃənz. The first syllable is a schwa, the second has a short i as in ‘flick,’ the third is a light shən cluster, and the final z is voiced. Tip: keep the tongue high for the /ɪ/ and close the lips slightly for /ʃ/ before the schwa.
Common errors: 1) misplacing stress on the first syllable as af-FLICK-tions; correct is ə-FLICK-tions with primary stress on the second syllable. 2) pronouncing /flɪk/ as /flɪk/ with a long i or unclear /ɪ/; keep a short, tense /ɪ/ like in 'fit' prior to /k/. 3) pronouncing the final -tions as -tjes or -tionz; correct is -tʃənz (shənz) or -ʃənz depending on accent. Use a quick, light /t/ cluster before /ʃənz/.
US: əˈflɪk.ʃənz with rhoticity on the preceding vowel if in connected speech; UK: əˈflɪk.ʃənz, often clearer light /ʃ/ and final -ənz; AU: əˈflɪk.ʃənz with slightly broader vowel quality; in fast speech some speakers reduce /ɪ/ to a lax vowel and assimilate /t/ to a flap before /ʃ/ in casual speech.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /fl/ immediately followed by the alveolar /ɪ/ and the /k/ leading into /ʃ/; sequencing requires precise tongue movement and timing. The /t/ can be unreleased in rapid speech, and the final /-ənz/ reduces to a nasal blend. Practice slow, then normal pace to maintain distinct /fl/ and /k/ before /ʃ/. IPA cues help anchor the exact articulation.
Does the word harbour a silent element in everyday speech? Not in standard English; the letters spell everything you pronounce: /əˈflɪk.ʃənz/. Some speakers assimilate /t/ in rapid speech, making it a lighter d-like or even almost omitted, but the core syllables remain pronounced. Focus on the two main consonant clusters: /fl/ and /ʃ/ to keep clarity.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "afflictions"!
- Shadowing: listen to a native speaker say 'afflictions' in sentences and imitate exactly, pausing after each syllable for accuracy. - Minimal pairs: practice with flaws like afflictions vs affidictions (to highlight the /fl/ cluster); afflict vs afflicted. - Rhythm: stress-timed rhythm; mark beats: da-da-DA-da-tion; practice clapping out the syllables with the same syllable weight. - Intonation: place rising intonation on the final noun phrase or statement to sound natural. - Stress: ensure primary stress on the second syllable (ə-FLICK-tions). - Recording: record, compare with reference, and adjust tongue position for /ɪ/ and /ʃ/.
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