4 syllables: Com, pe, ti, tion. Stress on ti.
kahm-puh-TISH-uhn
/ˌkɑmpəˈtɪʃən/
Competition is pronounced kahm-puh-TISH-uhn (/ˌkɑmpəˈtɪʃən/). It has four syllables (Com-pe-ti-tion), with the stress on "ti". Competition is a noun meaning a contest or rivalry between individuals or groups, often with prizes or recognition. It can also refer to the effort to outperform others. In everyday use, it conveys a setting where participants strive to excel, contrasted with collaboration. The word carries formal and semi-formal tones, suitable for business, sports, and academic discussions.
nounCompetition is a noun meaning a contest or rivalry between individuals or groups, often with prizes or recognition. It can also refer to the effort to outperform others. In everyday use, it conveys a setting where participants strive to excel, contrasted with collaboration. The word carries formal and semi-formal tones, suitable for business, sports, and academic discussions.
"The annual science fair is a competition where students showcase their best projects."
"There’s stiff competition for scholarships among top students."
"The market is full of fierce competition, which pushes brands to innovate."
You pronounce it as /ˌkɒm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/ in UK English or /ˌkɑːm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/ in US English. The word has four syllables with primary stress on the third syllable: com-po-TI-tion. Start with the 'com' as /kɒm/ or /kɑːm/, then a schwa in the second syllable, then /ˈtɪʃ/ in the third, and end with /ən/ or a light /n/ in the final. Listen for the stress shift and the reduced second syllable.
Common mistakes include stressing the wrong syllable (placing emphasis on the first syllable com-), mispronouncing the middle vowels as a tight /o/ instead of a reduced /ə/ (second syllable), and ending with a clipped /ɪʃ.ən/ rather than /ɪʃ.ən/. To correct: keep secondary stress on the second syllable lightly, roll the /t/ into the /ɪ/ rather than a hard /t/, and finish with a clean /ən/ rather than a nasalized or over-enunciated ending.
US: /ˌkɑːm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/ with rhotic accent; UK: /ˌkɒm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/ with non-rhotic tendencies and a shorter /ɒ/; AU: /ˌkɒm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/ similar to UK but with more clipped vowels and a slightly more fronted /ɒ/. The stress remains on the third syllable, but vowel quality and vowel length vary. Consonants like /t/ can be flapped or unreleased depending on the speaker and context.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure and the shift of primary stress to the third syllable, which can be unfamiliar to non-native speakers. The middle syllable uses a reduced vowel /ə/, which must be smoothly connected to the following /tɪʃ/. The final /ən/ blends quickly with the preceding /tɪʃ/, and a clear distinction between /t/ and /ʃ/ is essential. Pay attention to linking and rhythm to avoid a clipped cadence.
The word often features a syllable boundary that can cause a slight pause or a breath between /m/ and /pə/, yielding a natural flow: /ˌkɒm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/. A unique feature is the sequence /m-p/ across boundary between the first and second syllables; keep the /m/ nasal and then start /p/ with a light aspirated release rather than merging them into a single plosive.
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Competition comes from Latin competere, meaning to strive together or to seek together. Compete derives from com- ‘together’ + petere ‘to seek or strive’, originally implying a joint effort to reach a goal. In Classical Latin, competere meant to strive with or against something. The term entered English via Old French competition in the late Middle English period, retaining the sense of striving or contending. Over time, it broadened to include organized events (competitions) and the general notion of rivalry in commerce, sports, and academics. The word’s pronunciation stress pattern solidified over centuries, with the primary stress shifting to the second syllable in many varieties, yielding /ˌkɒm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/ in British English and /ˌkɑːm.pəˈtɪʃ.ən/ in American contexts. First known uses appear in 15th- to 16th-century English texts describing contests and legal rivalries, evolving to modern senses including competitive markets and award-based competitions.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Competition" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Competition" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Competition"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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