3 syllables: com, mis, sions. Stress on mis.
/kəˈmɪʃənz/
commissions is pronounced /kəˈmɪʃənz/. It has three syllables (com-mis-sions), with the stress on "mis". Commissions refers to orders or entrusted tasks given to someone to complete, often involving a fee or commission in return. It can also describe the act of granting authority to an agent or committee to act on behalf of another. In business and art, commissions denote projects contracted to be produced or executed.
Say it backCommissions refers to orders or entrusted tasks given to someone to complete, often involving a fee or commission in return. It can also describe the act of granting authority to an agent or committee to act on behalf of another. In business and art, commissions denote projects contracted to be produced or executed.
"The artist received several commissions to paint portraits for the exhibition."
"She secured commissions with multiple clients to fund her research."
"The city granted a commission to study and redesign the public transit system."
Pronounce it as /ˈkɒm.ɪˌʃənz/ in UK and US standards, with a strong first syllable, a short 'i' in the second syllable, and a soft, unstressed final 's' sound that is pronounced as /z/ here. The first two syllables compress into COM-mi, then -sions rhymes with missions on the final syllable. Mouth movements: start with a rounded /k/ + /ɒ/ (or /ɑ/ in some US contexts), then a quick /m/, followed by /ɪ/ and /ʃ/ before the final /ənz/ cluster. Listen for the slight palatal posture for /ʃ/ and the final z sound.
Common errors include pronouncing it as 'commissions' with /sɪən/ instead of /ʃən/ in the second syllable (s-ions often misarticulated as /sɪən/). Another mistake is stressing the second syllable or ending with /s/ as /z/ too strongly, creating a 'COM-mi-SIONS' vs 'COM-mi-sions' mismatch. Correct by cueing the /ʃ/ in the second-to-last syllable and keeping final /z/ only after the /n/. Practice the /ʃ/ as a single sound rather than a blend of t/d plus s.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˈkɑː.mɪ.ʃənz/ or /ˈkɑː.mɪˌʃənz/ with rhotic r influencing nearby vowels in related words, though not in commissions itself. UK speakers typically use /ˈkɒm.ɪ.ʃənz/, with shorter vowels and less rhotic influence. Australian pronunciation shares the UK quality but with mild vowel shifts and a non-rhotic tendency; the /ɪ/ and /ə/ vowels may be slightly centralized depending on regional variation. Focus on the /ʃ/ in all accents and the /z/ ending.
The difficulty comes from the /ɪ/ vs /ɪ/ vowel length, the /ʃ/ consonant cluster before the /ənz/ ending, and the subtle stress pattern across syllables. The combination of a stressed first syllable and a secondary stress in the /ˌʃənz/ portion can trip non-native speakers, who may overemphasize the second syllable or misarticulate /ʃ/ as /tʃ/ or /s/. Mastery comes from isolating the /ʃ/ and ensuring the final /z/ blends smoothly with the /n/.
The unique aspect is the /ˈkɒm.ɪ/ diphthongal start (or /ˈkɑː.mɪ/ in some accents) followed by the /ʃənz/ ending. It’s important to maintain a clear /ʃ/ sound rather than a palatalized /s/ and to ensure the post-vocalic /n/ doesn’t bleed into the /z/. You’ll hear slight variation in vowel length before the /ʃ/ depending on region; match the local rhythm and avoid adding extra vowel length on the first syllable.
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The word commission comes from the Old French commision, derived from late Latin commendationem, from committere meaning 'to entrust, commit'. The root component com- 'together, with' + mittere 'to send' indicates a function of sending someone to perform a task on behalf of another. In English, commission originally referred to the act of entrusting a person with an assignment or the act of granting authority to a person or body (e.g., a military or ecclesiastical commission). Over time, it broadened to include a formal order or instruction, the fee or percentage paid to agents for sales, and the body of individuals given authority. The plural form commissions appears in the 16th-17th centuries as trade and governance structures expanded, with “commission” adopting a noun plural to describe multiple such orders, duties, or appointments. Its semantic trajectory aligns with institutional and professional contexts, where a commission represents delegated power, commissioned work, or a formal mandate. The word’s modern usage often centers on two main senses: the act of commissioning (appointing or authorizing) and the compensation-based sense (sales commissions). The etymology reflects the core idea of sending or entrusting tasks across cultures and time.
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Words that rhyme with "commissions"
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