4 syllables: Com, men, da, tion. Stress on da.
kah-muhn-DAY-shuhn
/ˌkɑməˈndeɪʃən/
Commendation is pronounced kah-muhn-DAY-shuhn (/ˌkɑməˈndeɪʃən/). It has four syllables (Com-men-da-tion), with the stress on "da". Commendation is a formal or public expression of praise or approval, often issued by an authority or organization. It recognizes achievement or meritorious conduct and may accompany a certificate, medal, or official recognition. The term emphasizes positive acknowledgment and formal valence rather than casual praise.
nounCommendation is a formal or public expression of praise or approval, often issued by an authority or organization. It recognizes achievement or meritorious conduct and may accompany a certificate, medal, or official recognition. The term emphasizes positive acknowledgment and formal valence rather than casual praise.
How to Pronounce Commendation
"The university awarded him a commendation for his outstanding research on climate science."
"Her steady volunteer work earned a commendation from the mayor."
"The officer received a commendation for bravery during the rescue operation."
Pronounce it as kə-MEN-day-shn̩, with primary stress on the third syllable. The first syllable is a reduced kə (schwa), the second bears strong stress as MEN, the third is DAY, and the final syllable is a weak -tion reduced to schwa + n̩, sounding like -day-shn. IPA: US: kəˌmenˈdeɪʃn̩; UK: kəˌmenˈdeɪʃn̩; AU: kəˌmenˈdeɪʃn̩. Focus on keeping the /d/ clear but not forceful, and let the -tion glide into a light syllabic n.
Two frequent mispronunciations: 1) stressing the wrong syllable, sounding like kəmˈen-də-ˌeɪ-shən instead of kəˌmenˈdeɪʃn̩; 2) turning -tion into -tion as a full syllable i.e., /ɪən/ rather than a quick /ən̩/. Correct by emphasizing MEN as the nucleus and converting the final -tion to a weak -ʃn̩ or -ən̩. Practice with minimal pairs and tap the beat for rhythm.
In US, the primary stress remains on MEN; the final -tion is often a syllabic n- or a quick /ʃən/. UK tends to maintain a crisper /deɪʃn̩/ with slightly stronger enunciation of the /d/ before /ʃ/. Australian English mirrors UK patterns but with more vowel merging in the first syllable and a lighter, less rhotic onset. In all, the key is steady /ˌmenˈdeɪʃn̩/ with minor vowel color.
The challenge lies in the multi-syllabic stress pattern and the final -tion cluster. The middle strong diphthong /eɪ/ in /deɪ/ plus the hesitated /ʃn̩/ sequence can trip you up if you’re not crisp with the /d/ before /ʃ/. Also, shifting from a strong stressed syllable to a light, syllabic -n̩ requires precise timing. Practice with connected speech to stabilize the rhythm.
Think of the word as com-MEN-dey-tion, but pronounce the last syllable as a light -n̩ rather than a full -tion. The critical, word-specific cue is the /deɪ/ in the third syllable followed by an ultra-short, almost silent -n̩. Keep the mouth rounded slightly for /deɪ/ and relax the jaw after the /eɪ/ to land the syllabic n smoothly.
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Commendation derives from the verb commend, itself from Latin commendare meaning to entrust or to commit to someone’s charge. The Latin root commend- comes from commendare (to commit, entrust, praise). In English, commendation evolved to denote an act of praising or recommending in a formal or official sense, often linked to recognizing merit or achievement. By Middle English, the noun form commendation appeared, influenced by French commendation (praise, recommendation). The semantic trajectory moved from general praise to a more institutionalized form of acknowledgment, frequently in military, academic, or civil settings. The term carries a formal register, typically associated with ceremonies, awards, or official letters of acknowledgement. Over time, “commendation” has maintained its emphasis on positive appraisal, while occasionally serving broader contexts of commendatory language or formal recognition notes in institutional communications. First known uses in written English reinforce its association with formal praise, though the everyday lexicon often uses simpler alternatives such as praise or recognition. The enduring meaning centers on a sanctioned, outward display of approval from an authority or recognized body.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Commendation" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Commendation"
-ion sounds
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