3 syllables: Con, clu, sion. Stress on clu.
kuhn-KLOO-zhuhn
/kənˈkluʒən/
Conclusion is pronounced kuhn-KLOO-zhuhn (/kənˈkluʒən/). It has three syllables (Con-clu-sion), with the stress on "clu". As a noun, a concluding statement or ending part of something, often drawn from evidence or argument. It sums main points, draws implications, and may propose actions or judgments. In discourse, it marks closure and signals the transition from discussion to outcome or decision.
nounA concluding statement or ending part of something, often drawn from evidence or argument. It sums main points, draws implications, and may propose actions or judgments. In discourse, it marks closure and signals the transition from discussion to outcome or decision.
"The speaker delivered a powerful conclusion after presenting the data."
"We reached the conclusion that further study was unnecessary."
"The report ends with a clear conclusion and recommendations."
US/UK/AU IPA: /kənˈkluːʒən/. The primary stress is on the second syllable: -CLU- as /kluː/ with a long
Common errors: (1) stressing the first syllable (con-CLU-sion? vs con-CLU-sion) or misplacing stress on -clu-, (2) pronouncing the /ɔː/ as /ɑː/ or shortening the /uː/ to /u/ in US fast speech, (3) eliding the /l/ or blending /z/ with the /ən/ too quickly. Correction: keep /ˈkluː/ in the second syllable with a clear long u sound, enunciate the /z/ as the voiced s, and end with a crisp /ən/ or /ən/ without extra vowel. Practice with minimal pairs: “clue/blue” for lip rounding and “z-un/tion” clarity.
US: rhotic, /kənˈkluːʒən/ with a pronounced r? No, /kən/ not /krn/. UK: similar /kənˈkluːʒən/, sometimes non-rhotic in slower speech; AU: similar to US, but vowels can be slightly more centralized; all retain the long /uː/ in the second syllable. Key differences lie in vowel quality: UK tends to a tighter /ˈkluː/; US often has clearer /ˈkluː/ with slightly more pronounced length; AU tends to a broader diphthong in some speakers.
The difficulty often comes from the cluster -clu- where /kl/ must be released cleanly into the long /uː/ vowel, and then transitioning to /ʒən/ (/ʒ/ as in measure). The /ˈkluː/ part is longer than many two-syllable words, and the /-sion/ can be mispronounced as /zən/ or /sən/. Practicing the middle /kluː/ with a held vowel and a precise /ʒ/ can help you land the word crisply.
No silent letters in standard pronunciation. All letters contribute to the pronunciation: /k/ at the start, the /ə/ in the first schwa, the /n/ of the nasal, the /ˈkluː/ with the double vowel sound, and the final /ʒən/ where the /ʃ/ is realized as /ʒ/ in English.
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US: rhotic? the word has /kənˈkluːʒən/; UK: similar but vowels may be crisper, non-rhotic in rapid speech; AU: often a slightly broader vowel and less vowel reduction in unstressed syllables. IPA references: US/UK/AU share /kənˈkluːʒən/ with /ˈ/ stress on clu; pay attention to the /ˈkluː/ and the /ʒ/ sound.
Conclusion derives from the Latin verb concludere, from com- 'together' + fluere 'to flow.' The noun form emerges in Late Middle English (14th–15th centuries) as a result of adding the -tion nominalizing suffix to conclud, meaning 'a closing or ending.' Its modern sense—an inference or decision drawn from reasoning—developed in scholarly and rhetorical usage by the 17th century, aligning with logical deduction. The term traveled through French into English, retaining the core sense of bringing parts together to form a whole. Over time, its semantic range broadened to include conclusions drawn in scientific, legal, and philosophical discourse, as well as casual wrap-ups. First known use in English appears in legal and scholastic texts where arguments were formally completed with a conclusion. In contemporary usage, conclusion also denotes the final result of a process, event, or argument, and can signal the end of a discussion or the last section of a document or lecture. The word has remained stable in form while expanding in function, paralleling the evolution of rational discourse itself.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Conclusion" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Conclusion"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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