5 syllables: ci, vi, li, sa, tion. Stress on sa.
siv-il-uh-ZAY-shuhn
/ˌsɪvɪləˈzeɪʃən/
civilisation is pronounced siv-il-uh-ZAY-shuhn (/ˌsɪvɪləˈzeɪʃən/). It has five syllables (ci-vi-li-sa-tion), with the stress on "sa". Civilisation refers to the complex social, political, and technological systems that characterize a society's development, organization, and cultural progress. It encompasses institutions, shared norms, and collective achievements that distinguish a group from less advanced forms of social life. The term often implies a trajectory of growth toward more structured, enlightened living, though interpretations vary across cultures and scholars.
Civilisation refers to the complex social, political, and technological systems that characterize a society's development, organization, and cultural progress. It encompasses institutions, shared norms, and collective achievements that distinguish a group from less advanced forms of social life. The term often implies a trajectory of growth toward more structured, enlightened living, though interpretations vary across cultures and scholars.
"The advent of writing accelerated the civilisation of ancient empires."
"Modern civilisation depends on reliable infrastructure, education, and governance."
"Debates about ecology and inequality challenge our conceptions of civilisation."
US: /ˌsɪvɪləˈzeɪʃən/; UK/AU: /ˌsɪvɪlɪˈzeɪʃən/. The primary stress falls on the third syllable (the 'zeɪ' syllable) after the initial ‘civil’ portion, with secondary stress on the first syllable group. Start with a light 'si' sound, a schwa in the middle, and a clear 'zeɪ' before the final 'ʃən'. Tip: keep the mouth relaxed for the schwa and push the 'z' into a crisp voiceless 'z' before the long 'eɪ' diphthong.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying ‘ci-VI-li-sa-tion’ with wrong emphasis. (2) Slurring the -li- into a quick 'li' rather than a light 'lɪ' transition, making it sound like ‘siv-luh-lay-shun’. (3) Dropping the final -tion or mispronouncing the -zeɪ‑ as /zi/ or /zɪ/. Correction: keep the /lɪ/ before the /ˈzeɪ/ and ensure a clear /ʃən/ ending. Practice with a slow tempo, then build speed while maintaining accurate vowel qualities.
US tends to flatted vowels and a slightly stronger 'z' onset: /ˌsɪvɪləˈzeɪʃən/. UK/AU typically keep a more pronounced vowel in 'civil' and a rounded /eɪ/ in the 'zeɪ' syllable, with /ˌsɪvɪləˈzeɪʃən/. AU may exhibit a slight non-rhoticity in rapid speech; the final '-tion' still yields /ʃən/. The core energy stays on the 'zeɪ' syllable across accents; the difference is mainly vowel timbre, rhoticity (US is rhotic, UK/AU often non-rhotic), and vowel quality in the first two syllables.
Difficulties stem from the three-syllable structure with the mid-syllable /lɪ/ and the diphthong /eɪ/ in 'zeɪʃən', plus the final /ʃən/ cluster. Non-native stress timing and the transition from a schwa to a prominent /zeɪ/ can trip speakers. Lip and tongue positioning must switch smoothly from alveolar to postalveolar plus a palatal influence, with careful voicing on the /z/ and an accurate /ʃ/.
A key feature is the /ˈzeɪ/ diphthong in the central syllable and the /ʃən/ ending. Ensure the /z/ is voiced before the /eɪ/; the /ɪ/ in the first syllable should be short and quick, not a full vowel. The semi-stable schwa in the middle avoids over-articulating the second syllable, allowing the rhythm to hold on the /zeɪ/ peak.
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US: rhotic /r/-like quality in stressed syllables is minimal here; UK/AU: non-rhotic, most of the /r/ is not pronounced. Vowel shifts: US prefers a slightly tensed /ɪ/ in the first syllables and a brighter /eɪ/ in the middle; UK/AU keep a more centralized /ɪ/ and a fuller /eɪ/ before /ʃən/. IPA references help track the subtle shifts.
The word civilisation originated in late Latin civilis, meaning 'of a citizen or civilization; civilian,' from civis 'citizen.' It entered medieval Latin as civilis, relating to state or citizen affairs, and in English it appeared in the 18th century influenced by French civilisation, adopted from Latin civitas meaning 'city' or 'state.' The root idea evolved from the Latin civis and civitas, emphasizing organized society and urban life, law, and governance. Early usage framed civilisation as the refinement of a society through arts and institutions. By the 19th century, scholars distinguished between ‘civilisation’ and ‘savagery’ along with debates about progressive teleology. The term often carried normative judgments about cultures aligned with European Enlightenment ideals, though contemporary scholarship views civilisation as plural, diverse, and context-dependent, evolving with technology, colonial histories, and cross-cultural exchange.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "civilisation" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "civilisation"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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