5 syllables: co, hab, i, ta, tion. Stress on ta.
koh-hab-uh-TAY-shuhn
/koʊˌhæbəˈteɪʃən/
cohabitation is pronounced koh-hab-uh-TAY-shuhn (/koʊˌhæbəˈteɪʃən/). It has five syllables (co-hab-i-ta-tion), with the stress on "ta". Cohabitation refers to the arrangement where two people live together in the same residence, typically in a romantic or domestic partnership, without being married. It denotes a living-together arrangement and often implies shared household responsibilities and social recognition. The term is used in legal, sociological, and everyday contexts to describe this living pattern.
Cohabitation refers to the arrangement where two people live together in the same residence, typically in a romantic or domestic partnership, without being married. It denotes a living-together arrangement and often implies shared household responsibilities and social recognition. The term is used in legal, sociological, and everyday contexts to describe this living pattern.
"They began cohabitation to test compatibility before marriage."
"Public policy discussions on cohabitation rights have evolved in recent decades."
"The couple announced their cohabitation after two years of dating."
Pronounce as /ˌkoʊˌhæbɪˈteɪʃn/ in US/UK; roughly co-HA-bi-TA-tion with primary stress on the third syllable -te-ation. Start with a long O in 'co,' quick 'ha' as in 'habit,' and a clear 'teɪ' for the -teɪ- portion, ending with a soft 'shn' sound. Place your tongue for /h/, keep jaw relaxed, and glide from /ʊ/ to /æ/ if you’re using US timing. Listen for the hyphenated rhythm and the stressed -teɪ- suffix to finish strongly. Audio reference: Cambridge/Forvo entries demonstrate the four-syllable cadence.
Common mistakes include stressing the wrong syllable (placing primary stress on -ha- or -ba- instead of -teɪ-), truncating the final -tion to -sən or -shən, and merging sounds so it becomes ‘ko-ha-bit-ation’ without the correct /ˈteɪʃn/ ending. Correct by isolating the suffix: practice /ˌteɪʃn/ as a unit, and keep /ˈhæbɪ/ distinct from /ˈteɪʃn/. Think of it as three chunks: co-/hæbɪ-/teɪ-tion, with the main emphasis on teɪ-tion.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˌkoʊˌhæbɪˈteɪʃn/ with American vowel quality; UK English tends to /ˌkəʊˌhæbɪˈteɪʃn/ with a longer /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ and less rhoticity on some speakers. Australian English often aligns closer to UK in vowel quality but with a slightly flatter /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a broader vowel in /əʊ/. All share the stressed -teɪ-tion suffix; the main variation is the starting vowels and rhoticity. IPA guides from dictionaries confirm these patterns.
It’s multisyllabic with four syllables, a lag between /hæb/ and /teɪʃn/, and a final medial cluster /ʃn/ that can blur if spoken quickly. The sequence /hæb/ followed by /ɪˈteɪ/ requires precise placement of the tongue between syllables; beginners often misplace the primary stress or shorten /teɪ/. Slow articulation and chunking into three parts helps: co-/habɪ-/teɪʃn. Practice with minimal pairs to reinforce the -bɪ- vs -beɪ- vowels.
A unique aspect is the nuanced stress pattern and the vowel sequence in the -ha- vs -ti- portions encountering a distinct /æ/ vs /ɪ/ shift and the dactylic rhythm (two weak syllables before the stressed -teɪ-). Additionally, the suffix -tion in English often yields /ʃn/, which may be unfamiliar to learners used to simpler endings. Focusing on the triad co-/ha-bɪ-/teɪʃn will help you anchor the pronunciation and avoid slipping into co-hab-i-tion mispronunciations.
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US vs UK vs AU differences: • US: /ˌkoʊˌhæbɪˈteɪʃn/ with full 'oh' in co, rhotic /r/ absent, crisp /teɪ/ and final /ʃn/. • UK: /ˌkəʊˌhæbɪˈteɪʃn/ with more rounded /əʊ/ and non-rhotic tendencies; keep /ɪ/ relaxed. • AU: similar to UK but with Australian vowel centralization, slight broader /ə/ in first syllable and /eɪ/ in /teɪ/. Use IPA anchors and be mindful of rhotic variants. All share the suffix /-teɪʃn/; practice contrasts with ‘habit’ and ‘habitation’ to maintain clarity.
Cohabitation comes from the Latin co- meaning ‘together’ and habitatio, from habitare meaning ‘to dwell’ or ‘to inhabit.’ The word entered English via French influence in the 17th century, though the concept existed long before under various terms. Early usage described shared residence generally; by the 18th and 19th centuries, legal and sociological discourse began to distinguish cohabitation from marriage. The modern sense merges sociological interest in intimate partnerships with legal and demographic study, often discussing rights, responsibilities, and social norms. The term thus traces a path from general “living together” to a defined relational arrangement with cultural and legal implications, gaining prominence as societies re-evaluated traditional marital structures and family forms. First known uses appear in 17th- to 18th-century French-influenced English writings, but the contemporary noun phrase solidified in late 19th to early 20th-century sociological literature.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "cohabitation" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "cohabitation"
-ion sounds
-me) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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