4 syllables: cel, e, bra, tion. Stress on bra.
sel-uh-BRAY-shuhn
/ˌsɛləˈbɹeɪʃən/
celebration is pronounced sel-uh-BRAY-shuhn (/ˌsɛləˈbɹeɪʃən/). It has four syllables (cel-e-bra-tion), with the stress on "bra". A celebratory event or moment, typically marked by joy and public acknowledgment. It denotes the act of celebrating something notable, often with multiple participants, decorations, and rituals. The term emphasizes shared happiness and communal recognition, rather than the event’s duration or formality. It also extends to the act of recognizing achievements or milestones in various contexts.
A celebratory event or moment, typically marked by joy and public acknowledgment. It denotes the act of celebrating something notable, often with multiple participants, decorations, and rituals. The term emphasizes shared happiness and communal recognition, rather than the event’s duration or formality. It also extends to the act of recognizing achievements or milestones in various contexts.
- Pronouncing the middle syllable with a short /ɪ/ instead of the correct /ɪ/ or /ə/ leading to misplacement of the /breɪ/ portion. Correction: keep the /ɪ/ as a light touch or schwa in rapid speech; ensure the /breɪ/ is strong with a clear /eɪ/. - Fusing syllables and saying /sɛlbriˈeɪsən/; correct segmentation is /ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪʃən/, practicing the break between /lɪ/ and /breɪ/. - Mispronouncing the ending as /-tion/ like /-ʃn̩/ or /-ən/; correct ending is /-ʃən/; avoid replacing with /-ʃn/ or /-ən/ without the /ʃ/ sound. - Not maintaining secondary stress on the first syllable in connected speech; you’ll hear it as /ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪʃən/ with secondary stress on the first foot. Practice with pauses on syllable boundaries to reinforce rhythm.
"The city held a grand celebration to mark the anniversary."
"Her graduation was the centerpiece of the celebration with family and friends."
"There was a quiet celebration after the team clinched the win."
Pronounce as /ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪʃən/ in US and UK, with primary stress on the third syllable ‘bra-’ and secondary stress on the first syllable. Start with the ‘sel’ as /sɛl/ (short e as in 'set'), then a light schwa in the ‘i’ of ‘li’ (/ɪ/), then ‘breɪ’ as /ˈbreɪ/ with the long a sound, and finish with /ʃən/ where the ‘tion’ sounds like ‘shun’. In connected speech, the vowels can reduce slightly: /ˌsəˈlɛˌbreɪʃən/ in faster talk. Audio example: consult a reputable dictionary or pronunciation resource for the exact audio reference.
Common errors: misplacing stress (saying /ˌsɛlɪˈriːʃən/), pronouncing ‘tion’ as /tɪən/ or /ʃən/ with the wrong vowel, and delaying the /breɪ/ segment. Correction: ensure primary stress on the third syllable: /ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪʃən/. Practice the ‘breɪ’ portion with a clear, elongated /eɪ/ and keep the /ʃ/ cluster crisp. Use minimal pairs like ‘creation’ to fine-tune /breɪ/ vs /brɪ/ contrasts. Practice in isolation, then in words, then in sentence context.
US/UK/AU share /ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪʃən/ but vowels can tint: US often has a rhotic quality in faster speech affecting surrounding vowels slightly; UK may variant with a slightly clearer /r/ or reduced r influence in non-rhotic accents; AU tends to be similar to UK but may exhibit shorter final vowels and clipped endings in casual speech. The main differences revolve around rhoticity and the length of vowels in stressed syllables, with minor reductions in the final /ən/ depending on speech tempo.
The difficulty centers on the multi-syllabic rhythm and the /br/ cluster followed by /eɪ/ and the /ʃən/ ending. The stress pattern (secondary on the first syllable, primary on the third) can be tricky in rapid speech, and the /ə/ in the suffix ‘-ation’ reduces to a schwa in many dialects, making the ending sound like /ʃən/. People often blur or merge the /l/ with the following vowel, or mispronounce /breɪ/ as /brɪ/ or /braɪ/. Focus on clean separation of syllables and accurate /eɪ/.
The crucial feature is accurately articulating the /breɪ/ sequence with a long diphthong /eɪ/ and placing primary stress on the third syllable. Also ensure the initial /s/ does not blend into /ɛl/ and that the /t/ is not silent; in many dialects the /t/ is silent or softened in casual speech, but in careful speech you want /ˈbreɪʃən/ with a clear /t/-to-/ʃ/ transition if you’re pronouncing the /t/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "celebration"!
- US: articulate /ɪ/ in the first syllable clearly; keep /l/ light and not merging with /ɪ/; ensure /breɪ/ is a strong diphthong; final /ən/ reduces slightly but keep the /ʃ/ crisp. - UK: non-rhotic tendency, but keep /r/ out of syllable 4; practice /ˈbreɪʃən/ for a smoother /t/ to /ʃ/ transition; reduce vowel length in unstressed syllables; /ˌsɛlɪˈbreɪʃən/ - AU: similar to UK with possibly more vowel shortening in casual speech; maintain /eɪ/ as clear, avoid over-reducing the final /ən/; practice with quick tempo while retaining the /ʃ/.
Celebration comes from the Latin celebratio, from celebrare, meaning to gather or to honor with public rites. The root ‘celebra-’ stems from caelare, to call together in a feast, and ultimately from the Proto-Italic root kel- meaning to crown or honor. In Medieval Latin, celebratio referred to a formal act of honoring a divine service or festival, then later broadened in English to include secular festivities and social acknowledgment. The noun formation in English gained traction in the 14th-15th centuries, with usage expanding during the Renaissance as communal and public rites about achievements, holidays, and rites of passage became common. By the 17th and 18th centuries, ‘celebration’ was widely used for both religious observances and secular entertainments. Today, it encompasses a wide range of joyful occasions, from private gatherings to large civic events, and sometimes appears in phrases like ‘celebration of culture’ or ‘celebration of life.’
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "celebration" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "celebration" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "celebration" 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.
Words that rhyme with "celebration"
-ion sounds
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.
