5 syllables: com, mu, ni, ca, tions. Stress on ca.
kuh-myoo-nuh-KAY-shuhnz
/kəˌmjunəˈkeɪʃənz/
communications is pronounced kuh-myoo-nuh-KAY-shuhnz (/kəˌmjunəˈkeɪʃənz/). It has five syllables (com-mu-ni-ca-tions), with the stress on "ca". communications refers to the activities or systems involved in conveying information between people or groups. It can denote the field of study, the methods used for sharing data, or the channels through which messages are transmitted. In everyday use, it often describes both the act of communicating and the infrastructure that supports it.
communications refers to the activities or systems involved in conveying information between people or groups. It can denote the field of study, the methods used for sharing data, or the channels through which messages are transmitted. In everyday use, it often describes both the act of communicating and the infrastructure that supports it.
"Effective communications within an organization require clear messaging, appropriate channels, and feedback loops."
"The Communications major covers media theory, public relations, and information systems."
"Corporate communications teams manage internal updates and external brand messaging."
/ˌkɒmjʊˈneɪʃənz/ in US and UK; US often reduces to /ˌkɑːmjuˈneɪʃənz/ in rapid speech, with the secondary stress on the ‘neɪ’ syllable. Start with a light ‘k’ and a soft ‘o’ or /ɒ/, then /mju/ cluster, stress falls on the third syllable ‘neɪ’, followed by /ʃənz/. In careful speech, enunciate the four vowels: /kɒm/ + /juː/ + /ˈneɪ/ + /ʃənz/. Mouth: lips rounded for /juː/, front vowels centralize toward /ə/ in reduced syllables. Listen for the /neɪ/ as the peak syllable; the final /z/ is voiced.
Common errors: (1) Stress misplacement, often stressing the wrong syllable like /ˌkɒmjuːˈnɪkeɪʃənz/; (2) Flattening the /ju/ into a simple /juː/ rather than producing a distinct /mju/ cluster; (3) Dropping the final /z/ or not voicing it clearly in rapid speech. Correction: clearly articulate /mju/ as a cluster, keep /ˌkɒm.mjuˈneɪ.ʃənz/, and finalize with a voiced /z/. Practice isolating /mju/ and maintaining secondary stress on /neɪ/.
US: rhotic, /ˌkɒm.juˈneɪ.ʃənz/, with clear /r/ in related words, and /ɒ/ in non-rhotic variants. UK: /ˌkɒm.jʊˈneɪ.ʃənz/ with a shorter /ɒ/ and less rhoticity in some dialects; AU: /ˌkɒ.mjuˈneɪ.ʃənz/ with Australian vowel quality closer to /ɒ/ and a less rounded /juː/. Across accents, the key differences are vowel height and rhoticity; Americans keep /r/ in surrounding morphemes, while some UK and AU accents reduce rhoticity in non-initial syllables.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic, unstressed sequence with a cluster /mju/ after /m/, a+t/ on the /neɪ/ peak, and a final /z/ in rapid speech. The schwa in the middle syllables can reduce clarity, and the /j/ sound in /mju/ challenges non-native speakers to maintain the /m/ and /ju/ as a single alveo-palatal glide. Mastery demands precise tongue position for /m/ + /j/ sequence and consistent stress on /neɪ/.
Unique tip: treat the word as four segments: /ˌkɒm/ + /jʊ/ or /mju/ + /ˈneɪ/ + /ʃənz/. Make the /mju/ cluster a unit with a quick but smooth transition from /m/ to /j/ without a noticeable break; keep the secondary stress on /neɪ/. Practicing with minimal pairs that emphasize /mju/ and /neɪ/ can help you lock the rhythm.
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US: rhotic with clearer /r/ around related words; emphasize /ju/ as a distinct glide. UK: less rhotic in surrounding words; keep /ɒ/ bright and crisp; /ju/ may sound closer to /jʊ/ in some dialects. AU: vowel quality tends toward broader /ɒ/ and /juː/ with subtle vowel shifts; maintain non-rhotic feel in many contexts but still pronounce the /z/. All: keep the /mju/ cluster intact; ensure the secondary stress on /neɪ/. IPA anchors: US /ˌkɒm.juˈneɪ.ʃənz/, UK /ˌkɒm.jʊˈneɪ.ʃənz/, AU /ˌkɒ.mjuˈneɪ.ʃənz/.
The word communications derives from the verb communicate, which comes from the Latin communicare ‘to share, make common, impart’. Communicare originally meant to share or make common ground; con- ‘together’ + -municare ‘to share’ (from munus, ‘gift, service, duty’ in Latin). The noun form communications emerged in English by the 19th century to describe the act or process of communicating, especially as a field of study or system (e.g., mass communications, communications engineering). Over time, the term broadened from individual acts of exchanging messages to formalized systems, channels, and organizational departments dedicated to messaging, public relations, and information flow. In contemporary usage, it also encompasses digital communications technologies, from telecommunication networks to social media platforms, reflecting the evolution of channels that enable message dissemination across contexts and cultures.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "communications" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "communications" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "communications"
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