4 syllables: co, lo, ra, tion. Stress on ra.
kuhl-ur-AY-shuhn
/ˌkʌlɚˈeɪʃən/
coloration is pronounced kuhl-ur-AY-shuhn (/ˌkʌlɚˈeɪʃən/). It has four syllables (co-lo-ra-tion), with the stress on "ra". Coloration refers to the act or result of coloring something or the distinctive hue produced, often implying a nuanced or characteristic tint. In broader terms, it can describe the way color or shading gives form, mood, or meaning to something. The word is used in art, biology (pigmentation), and literature to denote color-related features or overlays.
Coloration refers to the act or result of coloring something or the distinctive hue produced, often implying a nuanced or characteristic tint. In broader terms, it can describe the way color or shading gives form, mood, or meaning to something. The word is used in art, biology (pigmentation), and literature to denote color-related features or overlays.
"The coloration of the butterfly wings helps camouflage it from predators."
"Her eyes showed a greenish coloration that suggested a unique pigment composition."
"The photographer adjusted the coloration to achieve a warmer, vintage look."
You pronounce it as /ˌkɒ.ləˈreɪ.ʃən/ in UK and US; US also accepts /ˌkʌl.əˈreɪ.ʃən/. The stress falls on the third syllable: co-lo-RA-tion. Start with an initial /k/ then the unstressed /ɒ/ or /ʌ/ sound, then /lə/ (lip relaxed, syllabic schwa), then /ˈreɪ/ (long a), then /ʃən/ (shən). Picture the mouth as you say “COL-uh-RAY-shuhn.” Practice with a slight secondary stress on the penultimate syllable to keep rhythm natural. Audio references: Cambridge and Oxford dictionaries provide pronunciation audio for US/UK variants.
Common errors: 1) Misplacing stress by saying co-LO-ra-tion or CO-lor-ation; place primary stress on -RA- (the third syllable). 2) Altering the /ˈreɪ/ to /riː/ or /rə/; keep a clear long a sound in that syllable. 3) Mixing up /ˌkɒl/ vs /ˈkʌl/ in the initial cluster; use /ˌkɒl/ (British) or /ˌkʌl/ (US) depending on your target accent. Corrections: practice with minimal pairs and stress-timed rhythm, gradually stabilizing /ˈreɪ/ as a strong vowel. You’ll hear the long a in the stressed syllable and the final unstressed -ən.”},{
US tends to use /ˌkəl.ɚˈeɪ.ʃən/ with a rhotacized /ɚ/ in some speakers and /ˌkɒ.ləˈreɪ.ʃən/ in non-rhotic variants; UK typically features /ˌkɒ.ləˈreɪ.ʃən/ with non-rhotic accent and clearer /ɒ/ and /eɪ/ sequences; Australian often shows /ˌkɒ.ləˈreɪ.ʃən/ with broad vowel qualities and a softened /ɹ/ or non-rhotic realization depending on speaker, but tends toward /ə/ in unstressed syllables. Regardless, the stressed /ˈreɪ/ remains prominent; the initial vowel quality and rhoticity vary by region. IPA notes help reveal subtle vowel shifts in non-rhotic vs rhotic varieties.
Key challenges: the second syllable contains a schwa-like /ə/ that often reduces; keep it compact without turning into /a/ or /æ/. The stressed /ˈreɪ/ has a long vowel that must be held briefly, not shortened. The initial cluster /kɒl/ or /kəl/ requires careful lip rounding and tongue height to avoid conflating with /kɔl/ or /kul/. Finally, ensure the ending /ʃən/ isn’t slurred into /ʃn/ or /ən/. Back-to-back stress and vowel transitions demand precision, especially in rapid speech.
Coloration keeps the root color, with primary stress on the -ra- syllable as a derivative noun, but it preserves the /ɡ/ or /ɡ/ sound from the /color/ base. The transition from /kɒl/ to /lə/ requires a soft, relaxed mid-central vowel for the unstressed syllables, avoiding a heavy /ɪ/ or /ə/ shift. The second syllable is light, and the third bears the main stress; that pattern distinguishes it from simply saying color with a suffix. Listen for the dash between -la- and -tion to maintain syllable clarity.
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Coloration comes from the verb color, sourced from the Old French couleur, from Latin color, meaning color or complexion. The suffix -ation forms nouns indicating an action or process. The term appears in English in the late 16th to 17th centuries, initially in scientific and artistic contexts to describe the process or result of imparting color or a characteristic tint to something. Over time, coloration broadened to denote not just physical coloring but the overall appearance or quality attributed by color, including metaphorical or diagnostic uses in biology (e.g., coloration patterns in animals, plants, or tissues). The word preserves the core sense of color-imparting as a process and outcome, while expanding to capture nuanced variations in hue, saturation, and contrast. First known uses are found in scientific and natural history writings where precise description of pigmentation or staining was essential for identification and study. Since then, coloration has entered common usage to describe anything with a distinctive color feature or tonal quality. The evolution reflects a shift from simple dyeing to a more analytical or descriptive framing of color characteristics across disciplines.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "coloration" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "coloration"
-ion sounds
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