3 syllables: ci, ta, tions. Stress on ta.
seye-TAY-shuhnz
/saɪˈteɪʃənz/
citations is pronounced seye-TAY-shuhnz (/saɪˈteɪʃənz/). It has three syllables (ci-ta-tions), with the stress on "ta". Citations are written or spoken references to sources used to support ideas, claims, or data. The plural form typically refers to multiple references, and in academic contexts, they guide readers to original works. As a word, it can also function as a verb in some languages, but here it is most commonly a noun in English. It conveys formal, research-oriented meaning. 50-80 words.
Citations are written or spoken references to sources used to support ideas, claims, or data. The plural form typically refers to multiple references, and in academic contexts, they guide readers to original works. As a word, it can also function as a verb in some languages, but here it is most commonly a noun in English. It conveys formal, research-oriented meaning. 50-80 words.
"The paper’s citations were carefully checked for accuracy."
"She added several citations to support her methodology."
"The editor requested different citation styles for consistency."
It’s pronounced /ˌsaɪˈteɪʃənz/. Put primary stress on the second syllable: ci-TA-tions. The first syllable is weak: /sɪ/ or /saɪ/ depending on your dialect, but in careful speech you’ll hear /ˌsaɪ/ as the onset before the stressed /ˈteɪ/. The final syllable ends with /ənz/; make the z sound, not a soft /s/. Audio reference: think ‘see-TAI-shuns’ with the final /z/.
Common errors include misplacing the stress or pronouncing /teɪ/ as /ti/ or /tə/. Some learners overemphasize the first syllable, saying /ˌsiːˈteɪʃənz/ or flatten the /ˈteɪ/ into /tə/. Correct it by emphasizing the second syllable: ci-TA-tions, with the /teɪ/ as a long vowel and the final /z/ voiced. Practice with minimal pairs like ‘stations’ to feel the •ays• sound in the stressed syllable.
In US and UK, the main difference is vowel quality in the /teɪ/ diphthong and the rhoticity of the /r/ in some linked forms. US speakers typically have a clear /r/ only in rhotic contexts; in careful citation usage, /ˌsaɪˈteɪʃənz/ remains non-rhotic between vowels. Australian English often shows a slightly more centralized /ə/ in unstressed syllables, but still retains /ˈteɪ/ in the stressed syllable. Overall, the rhythm and stress pattern stay consistent across regions.
Because it contains a clusters of vowels in the diphthong /aɪ/ followed by a stressed /ˈteɪ/ and an /ənz/ ending, it challenges speakers to keep the long vowel quality, move the jaw for the /t/ release, and marshal the final voiced /z/. The sequence /saɪˈteɪ/ can tempt learners to merge sounds or misplace stress. Practice focusing on the glide from /aɪ/ to /eɪ/ and the crisp /t/ release before /ənz/.
No, there are no silent letters in cit-ations. All phonemes are voiced or voiceless in sequence: /ˌsaɪˈteɪʃənz/. The second syllable’s /teɪ/ is fully pronounced with the long A, and the final /z/ is voiced. Some rapid speech may reduce vowels slightly, but in careful speech all phonemes are audible.
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Citations derives from the Latin noun citatio, meaning a summoning or call, from citare, to summon, name, or call. The root cit- relates to “to call” or “to name,” found in English words like citation, cite, and citation-related terms. The modern English form citations appeared in the 15th–16th centuries, aligning with the rise of scholarly practices of attributing sources. The plural -s marks it as referring to multiple instances of citation. Over time, the meaning narrowed in academic usage to refer to precise references to sources, with standardization in style guides.
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Words that rhyme with "citations"
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