5 syllables: dis, crim, i, na, tion. Stress on na.
/dɪˌskɹɪmɪˈneɪʃən/
Say it backDiscrimination refers to the unjust or prejudicial treatment of individuals or groups, often based on characteristics such as race, gender, or age. It also denotes the act of distinguishing or differentiating between items, ideas, or stimuli. In social contexts, it commonly implies biased actions or policies that disadvantage others, whereas in cognitive contexts it can mean the process of perceiving differences between things. The term carries strong negative connotations in moral and legal discussions.
"There is a history of racial discrimination that laws have sought to address."
"Workplace discrimination based on gender is illegal in many countries."
"The device uses discrimination to separate signals from noise in data processing."
Pronounce as dɪ-skri-mɪ-ˈneɪ-ʃən. Place primary stress on the fourth syllable: dis-crim-i-NA-tion. The first syllable has a short i sound; the second syllable reduces to a schwa in natural speech; the third contains the /m/ cluster before a clear /n/ onset in the finale. Listen for the -na- sequence before -tion, with the final syllable having a gentle schwa and a soft /ʃən/.
Common errors: (1) stressing the wrong syllable, often misplacing emphasis on the second or third syllable; (2) misproducing the /ɪ/ vs /ɪə/ in the -mi- sequence or inserting an extra vowel; (3) blending the -na- and -tion into a slurred -nəʃən- rather than a clear -neɪ-ʃən. Correction: keep the /neɪ/ vowel distinct, maintain primary stress on the fourth syllable, and pronunce -tion as -ʃən with a light, short /ən/ at the end.
US raises the rhotics; /dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃən/ with clear /r/ in the second syllable and a more prominent /eɪ/ in -neɪ-. UK features a slightly more clipped /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a non-rhotic /r/ (often silent) leading to /dɪˌskrɪmɪˈneɪʃən/. Australian tends to vowel-reduce more in unstressed syllables and may have a shorter /eɪ/ quality but keeps the stress pattern and /t/ influence near the end; overall rhythm remains similar.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic structure with four stressed segments, plus the sequence /-skrɪmɪˈneɪ-/. The weak forms in unstressed syllables can obscure /skr/ clusters and the /neɪ/ diphthong, making it easy to misplace stress or slur -neɪʃən. Another challenge is the /d/ at the start following a lightly pronounced /ɪ/ and the /ʃən/ ending which should be softer than a hard, full -tion. Clear articulation of the /skr/ cluster and consistent final -ʃən is key.
Tip: practice the sequence dis- + crimin- + -ation with segmented emphasis on the -neɪ- syllable. Build a tiny rhythm: da-da-CRIM-i-NA-tion, then slow down to da-SKRIM-i-NA-tion for contrast. Visualize the mouth positions: start with a wide /d/ release, pack the /skr/ cluster in early, keep the /ɪ/ in the first unstressed syllable short, and finish with a crisp /ʃən/.
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Discrimination comes from the Latin discriminatio, from discriminare, meaning to separate, distinguish, or separate out. The root dis- (apart) plus crimen (distinguishing mark, judgment, accusation) evolved into discriminare in Latin, denoting the act of dividing or distinguishing between things. In Old French, discriminer surfaced in the Middle Ages with senses tied to distinguishing or discerning, and by the 14th–15th centuries English adopted discriminate and discrimination with both cognitive discernment and social bias meanings. The modern sense of unfair treatment based on group membership emerged in the 18th–19th centuries, aligning with debates on equality and civil rights. Early legal and philosophical discussions framed discrimination primarily as a cognitive process of distinguishing objects, but in social policy contexts it shifted toward biased behavior and systemic inequities. First known usages in English surface in legal and philosophical texts addressing discernment and memory, gradually expanding to describe social prejudice as well as utility-based distinctions in data and perception. Over time, the term has maintained a dual usage: a neutral sense of differentiation and a highly charged sense of prejudice and unfair treatment, with contemporary discussions emphasizing anti-discrimination laws and inclusive practices.
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Words that rhyme with "discrimination"
-ion sounds
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