3 syllables: Con, ces, sion. Stress on ces.
kuhn-SESH-uhn
/kəˈnsɛʃən/
Concession is pronounced kuhn-SESH-uhn (/kəˈnsɛʃən/). It has three syllables (Con-ces-sion), with the stress on "ces". Concession (noun) refers to a thing granted in response to a demand or a yielding of a point in an argument or negotiation. It can also mean a negotiated clause or compromise, or a concession stand where food and goods are sold. The term emphasizes giving in or partial acknowledgment rather than full agreement, often to facilitate progress or avoid conflict.
nounConcession (noun) refers to a thing granted in response to a demand or a yielding of a point in an argument or negotiation. It can also mean a negotiated clause or compromise, or a concession stand where food and goods are sold. The term emphasizes giving in or partial acknowledgment rather than full agreement, often to facilitate progress or avoid conflict.
- Misplacing stress: people often say con-ˈsession or con-cess-ion; fix by placing primary stress on the second syllable: con-ˈse-tion with a crisp /ˈse/ and a light final -tion. - Final consonant clarity: avoid adding a strong 't' sound; final -tion should be /-ʃən/ rather than /-ʃənn/ or /-tən/. - Sibilant sequencing: the sequence between /s/ and /ʃ/ should be smooth; avoid a pause or an extra vowel between s and ʃ.
How to Pronounce Concession
"The company made a concession on vacation days after mediation."
"Her concession that the proposal had merit helped move the talks forward."
"During the debate, he offered a concession to address the opposing side’s concerns."
Pronounce as kən-ˈse-shən with primary stress on the second syllable. The first syllable is a neutral schwa, the second carries the stressed /ˈse/ portion, and the final syllable is a light /-ʃən/ with a soft 'sh' and schwa. IPA: US uk AU: kən-ˈsɛʃ-ən, note that the vowel in the stressed syllable is / ɛ / as in 'bed' in many dialects. Audio reference you can listen to: Pronounce or Forvo will have native speakers showing the exact mouth positions.
Common errors include misplacing stress (e.g., kən-ˈse-sion), mispronouncing the cluster /sʃ/ as separate /s/ and /ʃ/, and reducing the final -tion too much to a quick 'n' sound. Correct by stressing the /ˈsɛ-ʃ/ sequence, keeping the /ŋ/ or /ən/ softly articulated, and avoiding a heavy 't' or 'd' sound in the final syllable. Practice with slow repetition and clear separation of syllables.
In US and UK, the primary stress is on the second syllable with /ˈse/ sound; rhoticity affects the first syllable's vowel quality slightly, but generally both share /kənˈsɛʃən/. Australian English tends to be closer to UK in vowel quality but may show a sharper vowel in the stressed syllable and a slightly less rounded /ə/ in the first syllable. Overall, all three share the /kənˈsɛʃən/ skeleton with minor vowel shifts in the stressed syllable.
The difficulty lies in the stressed syllable /ˈsɛ/ followed by the /ʃən/ cluster, which can blur in fast speech. The tricky part is producing the /s/ + /ʃ/ sequence cleanly: ensure a clear alveolar sibilant leading into the palato-alveolar /ʃ/. Also, the schwa in the first syllable can be shortened or reduced in rapid speech, which can shift perceived stress. Practice with slow, deliberate enunciation.
Yes, the word contains a two-consonant cluster between the vowel and the final -tion: /-sɪʃən/ that makes the middle syllable crisp. The 'con-' prefix can lead to over-pronunciation of the 'n' in non-stressful speech. The key is maintaining a controlled, quick transition from /ˈsɛ/ to /ʃən/ without inserting extra vowels or a heavy t/d release. Focus on the /s/ to /ʃ/ connection.
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- US: rhotic first syllable: /kənˈsɛʃən/ with a clear r-colored or neutral /ə/ depending on speaker. UK: /kənˈseʃən/ with a slightly shorter first schwa and crisper /ʃ/ quality. AU: similar to UK but may exhibit a more centralized /ə/ in the first syllable and slightly longer duration on the stressed vowel. Vowel differences: stressed /ɛ/ vs /e/ in some contexts; but focus on /ɛ/ in standard. Consonant: keep /s/ and /ʃ/ distinct, avoid t or d release in final segment. IPA references: /kənˈsɛʃən/.
Concession comes from the Latin concessio, from concedere, meaning to yield, grant, or admit. The prefix con- indicates together, with, or completely, while -cessio derives from -cedere, to go or yield. In medieval Latin, concessio referred to a granting or yielding in a legal or formal sense. In English, the word began to appear in the 15th century with legalistic and rhetorical connotations, often describing a formal acknowledgment or grant within negotiations, treaties, or debates. Over time, concession broadened to reflect general acts of yielding or partial agreement in various contexts, including politics, business, and everyday discourse. First known usage in English is attested in legal and scholastic writings of the 1400s, where it described granting rights or privileges in a dispute. Through centuries, its meaning has stabilized around the core sense of admitting partial truth, making allowances, and granting a compromise, while also retaining specific uses in commerce (concession stands) and rhetoric (concessions in argument). The term thus encapsulates both the act of yielding and the material result of that yielding, whether in policy, law, or negotiation.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Concession" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Concession"
-ion sounds
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