3 syllables: Con, ta, gion. Stress on ta.
kuhn-TAY-juhn
/kəˈnteɪdʒən/
Contagion is pronounced kuhn-TAY-juhn (/kəˈnteɪdʒən/). It has three syllables (Con-ta-gion), with the stress on "ta". Contagion is a noun referring to the spread of a disease or idea from one person or place to another. It also denotes something that is seeping into, or propagating through, a system or society. The term emphasizes rapid transmission and the potential for widespread impact beyond a single source.
nounContagion is a noun referring to the spread of a disease or idea from one person or place to another. It also denotes something that is seeping into, or propagating through, a system or society. The term emphasizes rapid transmission and the potential for widespread impact beyond a single source.
"The contagion of the influenza virus made the city implement emergency measures."
"Investor panic led to a contagion effect across global markets."
"The idea of reform became a contagion, catching on with remarkable speed."
Pronunciation: con-TA-gion. IPA US: /kən-ˈteɪ-dʒən/, UK: /kən-ˈteɪ-dʒən/ (often written as /kən-ˈteɪ.dʒən/). The main stress is on the second syllable “TA,” with a soft “g” as in “gentle” before the “ion” ending. Start with a neutral schwa in the first syllable, then a clear /eɪ/ in the stressed syllable, and end with /dʒən/. Practice the transition between /teɪ/ and /dʒən/ by linking them smoothly. Audio reference: listen to native speakers saying “contagion” in medical lectures or news coverage to confirm rhythm and vowel timing.
Common mistakes: (1) Misplacing the stress on the first syllable; ensure the stress is on the second syllable. (2) Slurring the /t/ into the following /eɪ/ creating /kən-ˈteɪdʒən/ to /kən-ˈtædʒən/. (3) Mispronouncing the final /ən/ as /ənn/ or /ɒn/. Correction: keep /dʒən/ with a light, quick /ə/ before the nasal. Drill with minimal pairs like /kən-ˈteɪ-dʒən/ versus /kən-ˈtaɪ-dʒən/ to ensure the correct vowel quality. Maintain the vowel height in /eɪ/ and keep the /dʒ/ as a single affricate rather than a separate /d/ plus /ʒ/.”,
US/UK/AU share /kən-ˈteɪ-dʒən/ with the same stressed /eɪ/ and /dʒ/; differences are subtle. US tends to a slightly more rhotic, preserving a quick schwa in the first syllable. UK often has a slightly crisper consonant release at /dʒ/ and a marginally longer vowel in /eɪ/. Australian pronunciation remains similar but may feature a slightly broader vowel in /ə/ in the first syllable. All keep the /ɒ/ not present; the ending /ən/ remains unstressed. Listening for rhythm and air flow helps distinguish accents.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure with a stressed long /eɪ/ in the second syllable and the affricate /dʒ/ before the final syllable. You combine a light schwa in the first syllable, a clear /eɪ/ vowel, then the /dʒ/ sound followed by a reduced /ən/. People often misplace the stress or merge /eɪ/ with /ə/; maintain distinct vowels and the affricate to keep the word intelligible.
Contagion has no silent letters in standard pronunciation. Each letter participates in producing the syllables con-ta-gion: /kən-ˈteɪ-dʒən/. The metrical stress falls on the second syllable, while the surrounding vowels are pronounced with light, quick articulation. Therefore, there are no silent letters to omit in careful enunciation; practice the transitions from /n/ to /t/ and then to /dʒ/ to ensure clean, connected speech.
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Contagion comes from the late Latin contagio, from the Latin contagion-em (to touch, to handle), from contagere (to touch, to affect). Contagion is formed from con- (together) + tangere (to touch), reflecting ancient beliefs that disease spread by contact. The word entered English in the 14th century, originally emphasizing physical transmission through contact. Over time, it broadened to include the spread of ideas, emotions, and social phenomena, especially in epidemics and financial panics. In medical and public health discourse, contagion retained its core sense of transmission but became closely tied to mechanisms of transmission (airborne, contact, vector). Modern usage often metaphorically extends to non-biological ideas, but the medical sense remains central in epidemiology and policy discussions. The pronunciation and spelling have remained stable, with occasional emphasis shifts in phrases like “contagious disease” or “contagion effect.” First known use appears in Middle English medical texts, with scholarly attention increasing during the 18th and 19th centuries as germ theory and epidemiology developed. In contemporary discourse, contagion is a precise term in both clinical and sociopolitical contexts, signaling rapid, often exponential, spread.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Contagion" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Contagion"
-ion sounds
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