3 syllables: Com, ple, tion. Stress on ple.
kuhm-PLEE-shuhn
/kəmˈpliʃən/
Completion is pronounced kuhm-PLEE-shuhn (/kəmˈpliʃən/). It has three syllables (Com-ple-tion), with the stress on "ple". Completion (noun) refers to the act of finishing something or bringing it to a final state, often after a process or sequence of steps. It can denote achieving a goal, fulfilling a requirement, or the point at which a task is complete. The term is commonly used in academic, technical, and everyday contexts to indicate finalization or closure.
nounCompletion (noun) refers to the act of finishing something or bringing it to a final state, often after a process or sequence of steps. It can denote achieving a goal, fulfilling a requirement, or the point at which a task is complete. The term is commonly used in academic, technical, and everyday contexts to indicate finalization or closure.
How to Pronounce Completion
"The completion of the project took longer than expected, but the team finally delivered."
"Her graduation marks the completion of five years of study."
"We’re awaiting the completion of the survey before publishing the results."
Pronunciation is /kəmˈplē.ʃən/ (US/UK: /kəmˈpliː.ʃən/ in many dialects). The key is stress on the second syllable: com-PLE-tion. Start with a relaxed /k/, neutral schwa in the first syllable, a clear /ˈplē/ (US) or /ˈpliː/ (UK/AU) vowel cluster, then /ʃən/ for the final syllable. Tip: keep the /l/ light and avoid adding extra vowel before the /pl/ cluster. Listen to native speakers to reinforce the rhythm and intonation.
Common mispronunciations include flattening the stress to com-PLEE-shun with wrong vowel length in the second syllable, or pronouncing the second syllable as /plee/ with a strong /l/ and short /i/ instead of /ˈpliː/ or /ˈpleɪ/ depending on dialect. Misplacing the /ʃ/ or inserting an extra syllable (/kəmˈpləˈʃən/). Correction: place primary stress on the second syllable, use a long /iː/ or clear /i/ for /plie/ in many dialects, and keep /ʃ/ before the final /ən/ with a light, non-rhotic ending in non-rhotic accents.
In US, the second syllable often carries a clear /jiː/ or /ɪ/ depending on speaker; in many UK pronunciations you’ll hear /kəmˈpliː.ʃən/ with a longer /iː/ for the second syllable and a non-rhotic /ˈlə/ ending can be softer. Australian usually aligns with UK but can have a slightly more centralized vowel in the final syllable, and the 't' is not pronounced as a glottal stop in careful speech. Overall, stress remains on the second syllable; vowel quality of the middle vowel varies by accent.
Two main challenges: a) the two-consonant cluster /pl/ immediately after the stressed syllable and b) the final /ʃən/ syllable, which can slide toward /ʃn/ or be reduced in rapid speech. Practice positioning the tongue for /pl/ by sealing the lips then pressing the tongue to the alveolar ridge while releasing the /p/; for /ʃən/, keep the mouth rounded for /ʃ/ and relax the jaw for a softer /ən/. Slow, deliberate enunciation helps align the consonant cluster and the final syllable.
Is the middle syllable a long /iː/ as in 'plee' or a short /ɪ/ in some dialects? In standard American and many British pronunciations, it’s a long /iː/ (com-PLEE-tion) in careful speech, though some fast, informal speech can reduce it toward a short /ɪ/ or a schwa depending on the speaker. The accent and context influence whether the /iː/ is tense or lax. Focus on the quality of the /i/ to determine if it sounds like ‘plee’ or more like ‘plih’ in your target dialect.
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US: rhotics present, final /ən/ is often a schwa; Vowel in the second syllable is clear /ˈpliː/. UK: non-rhotic, /ˈpliː.ʃən/ with a longer, purer /iː/ and a crisp /ʃ/. AU: similar to UK; watch for a slightly broader vowel height and a more relaxed /ən/. IPA references: US /kəmˈplē.ʃən/ or /kəmˈpliː.ʃən/, UK /kəmˈpliː.ʃən/. Focus on keeping /pl/ cluster strong, the /iː/ steady, and the /ʃən/ clean, with the final syllable reducing slightly in rapid speech.
Completion comes from the verb complete, which originates from the Latin complētus (filled up, completed), formed from com- (together) and plēre (to fill). The noun form appeared in English in the late Middle Ages, aligning with the sense of bringing something to an end or making it whole. Over time, ‘completion’ broadened beyond physical filling to include processes, tasks, and formal statuses, such as contract completion or the completion of a course. The evolution reflects a shift from tangible finishing to abstract consolidation, culminating in a general use across many domains to denote finalization, closure, or fulfillment. The word’s usage rose in administrative, legal, and scientific language as standardized terms for milestones and deliverables, and it remains a common term in project management, education, and data reporting. First known uses appear in legal and architectural documents where “completion” indicated the final phase of construction or agreement fulfillment, later expanding into broader contexts including software, research, and everyday tasks.
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Words that rhyme with "Completion"
-ion sounds
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