4 syllables: con, gre, ga, tions. Stress on ga.
kahng-gruh-GAY-shuhnz
/ˌkɑŋɡɹəˈɡeɪʃənz/
congregations is pronounced kahng-gruh-GAY-shuhnz (/ˌkɑŋɡɹəˈɡeɪʃənz/). It has four syllables (con-gre-ga-tions), with the stress on "ga". Congregations are organized groups of people who assemble for religious worship or shared purpose. In general use, the term refers to assemblies gathered for a common activity or belief, often within a religious context. The plural form denotes multiple such assemblies, typically implying formal or semi-formal gatherings, sometimes part of a denomination or church structure.
Congregations are organized groups of people who assemble for religious worship or shared purpose. In general use, the term refers to assemblies gathered for a common activity or belief, often within a religious context. The plural form denotes multiple such assemblies, typically implying formal or semi-formal gatherings, sometimes part of a denomination or church structure.
- You’ll often flatten the second syllable’s reduced vowel, turning /ɪ/ into a schwa; fix by keeping /ɪ/ clearly before the /ɡeɪ/. - Misplacing primary stress on the second or fourth syllable; anchor on the /ˈɡeɪ/ cluster with a definite breath before and after. - Slurring final -tions into -shənz or -tenz; keep the final /ənz/ with a light, quick release. - Not releasing the /ŋ/ and /ɡ/ in that adjacent cluster; practice a clean /ŋɡr/ onset by separating airflow briefly then blending. - Over-rolling the final z; aim for a crisp, voice-on /z/ without extra aspiration. Practice tip: slow it down, isolate the tough sequences like /ŋɡrɪˈɡeɪ/ and /ənz/ and then progressively speed up while maintaining the rhythm.
"The congregations met every Sunday to discuss charity work and community outreach."
"Researchers studied the congregations’ attendance trends over a decade."
"Several congregations joined forces to fund a new community center."
US/UK/AU IPA: /ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃənz/. Put primary stress on the third syllable: con-GRE-ga-tions isn't correct; the main stress is on -Ge- as in -gə-; mechanisms: conGRI-gations? To be precise: kon-grɪ-GAY-shənz with a secondary stress near the end? The standard pronunciation places primary stress on the third syllable: kon-grɪ-GAY-shənz. Follow with a light /ə/ in the penultimate syllable and /z/ at the end. Audio references: you can compare with Pronounce or Forvo entries for 'congregation' and pluralize with -s.
Two or three common errors: 1) Stressing the wrong syllable (placing primary stress too early, e.g., CONG-ri-GAY- tions). 2) Slurring the -gation as -jen, producing kon-gruh- JAY- shənz instead of kon-grɪ-GAY-shənz. 3) Mispronouncing the final -tions as -tionz or -shun, rather than -shənz. Correction tips: keep the /ɡeɪ/ sequence intact as /ɡeɪ/ in -gā-; produce the final -ɪənz as -ənz with a light schwa before the z. Practice with minimal pairs to anchor the -ɡeɪ- vs -ɡə- transitions.
US: rhotic, with consistent /ɹ/; main stress at /ɡeɪ/; vowel quality tends toward /ɪ/ in the second syllable. UK: non-rhotic /ɹ/ becomes /ɜː/ or /ə/ depending on speaker; some speakers reduce /ɪ/ slightly; final -z pronounced. AU: tends to be non-rhotic like UK; vowels drift toward broader /ɒ/ vs /ɒ/; final -z can be voiced as /z/ with slightly weaker aspiration. All share the /ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃənz/ framework but vowel qualities and rhoticity vary.
It stacks multiple consonant clusters and a two-part vowel sequence: /ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃənz/. Challenges include /ŋɡr/ sequence, the diphthong /eɪ/ in the stressed syllable, and the final /ənz/ cluster. Tongue retraction for /ŋ/ and /ɡ/ needs control; the /ɡreɪ/ sequence can be misarticulated as /ɡriː/ or /ɡeɪn/. Controlled release and clear vowel transitions help. Practicing the segmentation and timing reduces slurring.
A key feature is the shifting from a centrally framed /ɪ/ in the second syllable to the tense diphthong /eɪ/ in the stressed third syllable and then a reduced final syllable /ənz/. This combination—a rhotic-friendly onset /kɒŋ/ followed by a two-vowel sequence /ɪˈɡeɪ/—requires precise mouth opening and jaw relaxation to maintain clarity across rapid speech. Ensure a clean /ɡeɪ/ and a compact /ənz/ at the end.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/ in /ˈkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃənz/ and clearer /ɪ/ before /ɡeɪ/. Keep the vowel durations short but distinct. - UK: non-rhotic; often a slightly longer middle /ɡrɪˈɡeɪ/, with a shorter /ɪ/ and softer /ɡ/; /ˈkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃənz/ may sound more clipped. - AU: non-rhotic; vowel qualities may be broader; emphasize the /ɒ/ and the /eɪ/ as a longer diphthong; /z/ ends clearly. Use IPA references: /ˌkɒŋɡrɪˈɡeɪʃənz/.
Congregation comes from the Latin congregatio, from con- ‘together’ and greg- ‘flock, herd, crowd’. The root greg- yields words like gregis (of the flock) in Latin, while con- signals ‘together’. The term entered English via French as congregation, with early senses tied to religious assemblies. Over time, the sense broadened to any organized group gathered for a common purpose, especially within congregations of churches or sects. By the 17th–18th centuries, the word often referred to a specific church body or local parish assembly. In modern usage, congregations can be religious or secular communities who come together for worship, social, or civic activities. The word retains its core sense of a gathered crowd united by shared beliefs or goals, with plural form congregations denoting multiple such bodies or meetings. The meaning has evolved to emphasize organized, regular gatherings rather than mere crowds, reflecting structural or denominational affiliations in many contexts.
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Words that rhyme with "congregations"
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