4 syllables: con, fir, ma, tion. Stress on ma.
kahn-fur-MAY-shuhn
/ˌkɑnfɚˈmeɪʃən/
confirmation is pronounced kahn-fur-MAY-shuhn (/ˌkɑnfɚˈmeɪʃən/). It has four syllables (con-fir-ma-tion), with the stress on "ma". Confirmation refers to the act of affirming or validating something, often after evidence or verification. It also denotes a formal vote or permission that confirms a decision or agreement. In linguistics, it can describe the process of validating a hypothesis or information as accurate. The term carries nuance from reassurance to official assent, depending on context.
Confirmation refers to the act of affirming or validating something, often after evidence or verification. It also denotes a formal vote or permission that confirms a decision or agreement. In linguistics, it can describe the process of validating a hypothesis or information as accurate. The term carries nuance from reassurance to official assent, depending on context.
"The scientist requested further data before giving final confirmation of the theory."
"She nodded in confirmation after reading the email’s terms."
"The embassy issued confirmation of visa approval."
Break it into syllables: /ˌkɒn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən/. Stress is on the third syllable: kon-fə-MAY-shən. Start with /k/ and with a light /ɒ/ vowel in British-style British English or /ɑ/ in some American dialects. The middle /fə/ is a quick schwa with a soft /f/; the stressed /meɪ/ has a long A; end with /ʃən/ where the n is lightly released. In careful speech you’ll hear each segment clearly; in fast speech it often reduces to /ˌkən.fəˈmeɪʃn̩/ or /ˌkən.fəˈmeɪʃən/. Audio reference: [Pronounce] technique listeners can substitute with their usual regional voice.”,
Common errors include misplacing stress (pronouncing kon-FIR-ma-tion), mispronouncing the middle /fə/ as /fɚ/ or /fɪ/ instead of a true schwa, and truncating the final -tion to /ʃən/ too abruptly (saying /ˌkɒn.fəˈmeɪʃ/). Correction: keep the final /ən/ or /n̩/ with a light n when the word is stressed. Practice saying the syllables slowly: kon-fə-MAY-shən, then speed up while maintaining clear vowel quality, especially the long /eɪ/ diphthong in /meɪ/. This will help you avoid clipping the final syllable.”,
In US English, you’ll commonly hear /ˌkɑːn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən/ in some dialects, but most general American uses /ˌkɑn.fəˈmeɪʃən/ with a rhotic /r/ only in adjacent contexts. UK English tends to /ˌkɒn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən/ with non-rhotic /r/ and a clear /ɒ/ vowel in the first syllable; AU English is similar to UK but can show tighter vowels and a more pronounced final /ən/. Across accents, the stressed syllable remains on the third, but vowel qualities shift (US often /ɑ/ vs UK /ɒ/ and AU /ɒ/). The final /ʃən/ generally remains consistent across varieties.
Three core challenges: 1) The multi-syllabic stress pattern places emphasis on a late syllable, which can be easy to misplace in rapid speech. 2) The /fə/ sequence requires a quick, unstressed mid-vowel before the diphthong /meɪ/, which can blur in connected speech. 3) The final /ʃən/ can reduce to /ʃn̩/ or /ən/ depending on pace, leading to blur. Practice by isolating the /fə/ and the /meɪ/; ensure you don’t merge /f/ with the following vowel. IPA guidance helps you pin down exact tongue position and lip shape.”,
A distinctive feature is the long /eɪ/ diphthong in the /meɪ/ portion which should clearly glide from /e/ to /ɪ/ without becoming /eː/ or /iː/. The second syllable is lightly reduced to a schwa, so you must keep the main energy on the /meɪ/ to avoid a flat overall rhythm. Additionally, the sequence /n.fə/ requires you to separate the nasal and schwa cleanly before the stressed /meɪ/—don't merge them into /nfə/.”,
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Confirmation comes from the late Latin confirmatio, from confirmare meaning to strengthen or establish. The prefix con- implies together, while firmare means to make firm. The term entered English through law and theology, where a formal act or declaration was required to establish truth or validity. In medieval and early modern usage, confirmation referred to the ratification of decisions, agreements, or sacraments. Over time, its semantic field widened to include any act of corroborating information, whether in science, law, or everyday decisions. The pathway from “making firm” to “verifying” mirrors shifts in institutional trust where authority required written or spoken validation. In contemporary usage, it vitally connotes both procedural assent (e.g., visa confirmation) and epistemic verification (e.g., data confirmation). First known English uses appear in legal and clerical texts of the 14th–15th centuries, with broader adoption in the 16th–18th centuries as bureaucratic processes expanded. The word’s resonance with certainty and official sanction keeps it central in formal communication, ensuring that decisions are anchored in verified information and agreed terms.
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Words that rhyme with "confirmation"
-ion sounds
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