5 syllables: com, mu, ni, ca, tion. Stress on ca.
kuh-myoo-nuh-KAY-shuhn
/kəˌmjunəˈkeɪʃən/
communication is pronounced kuh-myoo-nuh-KAY-shuhn (/kəˌmjunəˈkeɪʃən/). It has five syllables (com-mu-ni-ca-tion), with the stress on "ca". Communication is the act or process of conveying information, thoughts, or feelings between people or systems. It encompasses speaking, listening, writing, and nonverbal cues, and is foundational to human interaction and collaboration. Effective communication requires clear articulation, audience awareness, and adaptive strategies to ensure messages are understood as intended.
nounCommunication is the act or process of conveying information, thoughts, or feelings between people or systems. It encompasses speaking, listening, writing, and nonverbal cues, and is foundational to human interaction and collaboration. Effective communication requires clear articulation, audience awareness, and adaptive strategies to ensure messages are understood as intended.
How to Pronounce Communication
"Effective communication is essential in teams to align goals and coordinate tasks."
"She improved her communication skills by practicing active listening and concise phrasing."
"The project failed due to a breakdown in communication between departments."
Pronounce it as kə-ˌmyu-nə-ˈkeɪ-ʃn̩ in US and UK; the primary stress lands on the fourth syllable '-ca-tion'. Break it into: com - mu - ni - CA - tion. Note the syllabic n at the end, so the final sound is a syllabic n̩ rather than an added vowel. You can listen to a model on Pronounce or YouGlish for confirmation.
Common errors include over-stressing the second syllable (com-MYU-ni-cation) and adding an extra vowel before the final -tion (-tion vs -shn̩). Another frequent slip is misplacing the primary stress on -CA-tion instead of -CA-tion’s fourth syllable. To correct: maintain schwa in unstressed syllables, place the main emphasis on the fourth syllable, and make the final -tion sound as a quick 'shn' with a syllabic n.
Across US, UK, and AU, the core rhythm stays similar, but rhoticity and vowel length differ. US and AU maintain a rhotic /r/ only in r-colored vowels; UK often lacks rhoticity in non-rhotic contexts. The /juː/ in -mju- tends to be pronounced with a clear /j/ as in 'you', but duration can vary slightly. Vowel qualities in the diphthongs can shift: US may realize /əˌmjuːn/ with a slightly stronger /juː/ than UK; AU typically aligns with UK for nonrhotic patterns but with a broader, flatter overall intonation.
Because it combines multiple weak-stressed syllables with a consonant cluster at the end and a syllabic n̩. The sequence /ˌmjuː/ includes a palatal semivowel /j/ after a labial /m/, which can cause blending issues. The final /n̩/ demands precise tongue blade positioning to avoid a light vowel following the n. Also, the shift from mid to high front vowels in -mi- vs -keɪ- can cause vowel merging if you rush.
As a noun, the word carries a primary stress on the -CA- portion of the word, with a preceding cluster that reduces, making the final syllable notably lighter. The final syllable -tion becomes -ʃn̩, a syllabic consonant rather than /ʃən/. Focus on the syllabic n̩ to avoid pronouncing a full vowel after -ʃn̩. This noun form keeps the rhythm distinct in sentences, especially after verbs like 'facilitate' or 'enable'.
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US: rhoticity is visible in linked speech; UK: less rhotic; AU: merged with nonrhotic tendencies but more of a rising terminal. • Vowel detail: /ə/ in com- weak; move to /ə/ in US, /ə/ in UK; /mjuː/ approximates 'mya' with a clear /j/; /keɪ/ is a rising diphthong /eɪ/. • Tip: anchor your tongue behind top teeth for /j/; keep lips relaxed for /ə/; use a short, sharp /t͡ʃn̩/ ending.
Communication derives from the Latin noun communicatio, meaning a sharing or imparting of something in common. The root communicare means to share or impart, from com- (together) and -municare (to share, to make common). The term appeared in English in the late 14th century in the sense of sharing or imparting information. By the 17th century, it extended to the act of exchanging information through speech, writing, or other signals. The modern sense—systematic transmission of information between individuals, groups, or devices—emerged with the growth of print, telecommunication, and information theory. The word evolved along with associated terms like communicate, communicator, and communication system, reflecting shifts from purely interpersonal talk to complex mediated channels, including digital networks in the 20th and 21st centuries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "communication" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "communication"
-ion sounds
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