5 syllables: con, si, der, a, tion. Stress on a.
/kəˌnsɪdɚˈeɪʃən/
consideration is pronounced /kəˌnsɪdɚˈeɪʃən/. It has five syllables (con-si-der-a-tion), with the stress on "a". Consideration refers to careful thought or deliberation given to something, often accompanying a respectful regard for others or for potential consequences. It can also mean a factor weighed in decision-making, or the act of considering someone’s feelings or circumstances. In use, it connotes deliberate attention, mindfulness, and measured judgment, especially in social or professional contexts.
Say it backConsideration refers to careful thought or deliberation given to something, often accompanying a respectful regard for others or for potential consequences. It can also mean a factor weighed in decision-making, or the act of considering someone’s feelings or circumstances. In use, it connotes deliberate attention, mindfulness, and measured judgment, especially in social or professional contexts.
"Before making a decision, she paused for a moment of consideration."
"The project was accepted with the consideration of budget and timelines."
"He spoke with great consideration for the opinions of all team members."
Pronunciation: /ˌkənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃn/ (US/UK common); primary stress on the fourth syllable: -er- in rapid speech can be reduced. Start with /kən/ (k + schwa + n), then /ˈsɪd/ or /sɪ-də/ (short i, soft d), then /ə/ (schwa), then /ˈreɪ/ (long a) followed by the final /ʃn/ with a light n. In careful speech you may hear /ˌkənˌsɪdərˈeɪʃən/ with secondary stress on -der-. Audio resources: Forvo and Pronounce can provide native models; practice saying slowly: /ˌkənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃən/ and then speed up.
Common errors: (1) stressing the wrong syllable, often tipping primary stress to -SID- or -REI-, (2) mispronouncing the -tion as -shn or -sən rather than -ʃən; (3) over-teasing the /ɑ/ or /eɪ/ in the ending syllable. Correction: place primary stress on the fourth syllable: /ˌkənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃn/; keep /ɪ/ in the second syllable crisp but not tense; reduce the second /ə/ and keep the final /ʃən/ sequence smooth. Practice with minimal pairs and slowed enunciations; listen to native samples on Pronounce or YouGlish.
Across accents, the core segments remain, but vowel qualities differ: US tends toward /ˌkənˌsɪdəˈreɪʃən/ with a rhotic r; UK often /ˌkɒn.sɪ.dəˈreɪ.ʃən/ with non-rhotic r and shorter /ɒ/; Australian blends toward /ˌkɒn.sɪ.dəˈreɪ.ʃən/ with a slightly broader vowel and progressive vowel reduction. The main variations are vowel quality (/ɒ/ vs /ɑ/ or /ɒ/) and rhoticity, not the basic consonant structure.
Difficulties stem from multiple adjacent syllables with reduced vowels: /kən/ and /də/ use schwa, while /ˈreɪ/ contains a long vowel that can slide in rapid speech; the /ʃ/ in the ending followed by /ən/ can blur in casual speech. Also, secondary stress on the penultimate- syllable can confuse learners. Mastery requires careful control of stress placement, vowel reduction, and the /r/ vs non-rhoticity depending on accent.
A distinctive feature is the two-stage stress pattern: some speakers exhibit a secondary stress on -der- when speaking carefully: con-SID-er-ation. Also, the ending -tion is often pronounced as /ˈʃn/, so you should glide from /ə/ to /ʃ/ smoothly to avoid breaking the rhythm. Practicing with syllable-timed counting helps anchor the rhythm, ensuring the long /eɪ/ is not shortened in natural speech.
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Consideration originates from the Latin word considerare, meaning to look at the stars or to examine closely, from con- ‘together’ + siderare ‘to examine,’ which itself derives from sidus ‘star’ (whence the sense of “consider” as to observe or study). In Late Latin, consideratio emerged to mean contemplation or deliberation. The English noun entered usage in the 13th–14th centuries, initially in legal and formal discourse to denote the bearing or regard given to someone’s rights or arguments. By the 15th century, it broadened to mean thoughtful reflection or the act of giving careful attention in decision-making. The modern sense consolidates its social nuance—careful attention to people’s feelings or circumstances—alongside the more utilitarian idea of weighing factors in a decision. The word’s trajectory mirrors a shift from the abstract act of noticing toward a concrete quality of considerate behavior. In contemporary English, it frequently appears in professional, ethical, and interpersonal contexts, preserving both cognitive reflection and empathetic regard as central themes.
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Words that rhyme with "consideration"
-ion sounds
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