3 syllables: com, pas, sion. Stress on pas.
kuhm-PASH-uhn
/kəˈmpæʃən/
compassion is pronounced kuhm-PASH-uhn (/kəˈmpæʃən/). It has three syllables (com-pas-sion), with the stress on "pas". Compassion is a deep, enduring feeling of concern for others, often accompanied by a desire to help. It combines emotional empathy with a proactive stance to alleviate suffering. The term emphasizes inward sympathy as well as outward action in moral or personal support contexts.
Compassion is a deep, enduring feeling of concern for others, often accompanied by a desire to help. It combines emotional empathy with a proactive stance to alleviate suffering. The term emphasizes inward sympathy as well as outward action in moral or personal support contexts.
- Not stressing the second syllable: It’s com-PA-ssion, not com-PAS-sion. Practise by saying ‘come’ quickly and compress the second syllable to a strong beat. - Slurring the /ʃ/ into the /s/ or /ən/: Keep the /ʃ/ distinct, a crisp ‘sh’ before the light /ən/. - Weak final /ən/: The ending should be heard; avoid reducing to a simple /n/ or a dropped syllable. - Vowel reduction in first syllable: The /ə/ should be a clear, short schwa, not a full vowel like /æ/ or /ɪ/. - Speed bias: When you speed up, you often lose the crisp /ʃ/ and the vowel clarity; slow down at the nucleus and then build speed with rhythm.
"Her charity drive grew from a genuine compassion for those less fortunate."
"The nurse's compassion put anxious patients at ease during rounds."
"He spoke with compassion, acknowledging their struggles while offering practical assistance."
Pronounce it as /kəm-ˈpaʃ-ən/ in US and UK, with stress on the second syllable. Break it into com-PA-ssion, where /k/ is clear, /ə/ is a soft schwa in the first syllable, /ˈpaʃ/ contains the stress and a long a-like vowel quality blended into /ʃ/ (sh), and the final /ən/ is a light, unstressed syllable. Think "kuh-PAH-shun" in quick speech, ensuring the sh sound is crisp. Audio resources: Cambridge, Oxford, and Pronounce provide precise audio samples for comparison.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (em-PAS-sion instead of com-PASS- ion), merging /ʃ/ with /s/ so it sounds like /kəm-ˈpæʃən/ rather than /kəm-ˈpaʃ-ən/, and weakening the final /ən/ into a barely audible /n/. To correct: keep the second syllable clearly stressed with /ˈpaʃ/ and finish with a light, unaccented /ən/. Ensure the /ʃ/ is a distinct, crisp sound rather than a softened /ʃ-ən/ blend.
In US and UK, primary stress remains on the second syllable: com-PASS-ion. US often has a slightly reduced first vowel in the first syllable (/kə/), UK can preserve a clearer /ə/ and a crisper /pæ/ vs /paʃ/ depending on speaker. Australian typically mirrors UK in rhotacism and vowel quality, but connected speech may reduce the vowels more, especially in fast talk. Across all, the /ʃ/ remains steady, and the final /ən/ reduces to a schwa in casual speech.
The challenge lies in the two unstressed syllables around a strong stressed nucleus: com-PA-ssion. You must blend /k/ + /ə/ into a smooth onset, then hit /ˈpaʃ/ with a strong, crisp /ʃ/ before a light, schwa-like /ən/. The sequence /-pa-ʃ-ən/ can cause a sandwiched consonant cluster and vowel reduction if you speak too quickly. Practice by isolating the stressed syllable with a clean /ˈpaʃ/ and then attach the neighboring sounds.
No. All letters contribute to the spoken form: the second syllable carries the strong /ˈpaʃ/ with a clear /ʃ/ sound, and the ending /ən/ is audible as a light schwa. Your challenge is not silent letters but proper timing and articulation of the unaccented vowels around the stressed nucleus. Focus on keeping /k/ initial, /kəm/ unstressed, and a crisp /ˈpaʃ/ before a soft /ən/.
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- US: rhotic, enjoy a slightly stronger /ɚ/ in unstressed endings; 2nd syllable has clear /paʃ/; keep /ə/ in the first syllable brief. - UK: non-rhotic; maintain a more rounded first vowel and slightly crisper /ən/ at the end; stress remains on /ˈpaʃ/. - AU: similar to UK, with a tendency for vowel reductions in rapid speech; keep the /ʃ/ distinct and avoid /t/ or /d/ flapping in rapid delivery. - IPA references: US /kəˈmæʃən/ vs UK /kɒmˈpaʃən/ vary with /æ/ vs /aɒ/; focus on /ˈpaʃ/ nucleus and final /ən/ in all accents.
Compassion comes from the Latin word compassio, meaning “to suffer with,” from com- (together) + passio (suffering). The term evolved through Old French as compassion, entering English in the late medieval period to mean a shared feeling of pity that motivates helpful action. Early usage framed compassion as a virtue linked to Christian charity and social benevolence, extending beyond mere sorrow to active aid. Over centuries, the sense broadened to include secular and philosophical applications, remaining tied to the idea of shared humanity. The word has retained its core moral undertone while expanding to describe psychological empathy as well as social responsibility in modern discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "compassion" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "compassion"
-ion sounds
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