4 syllables: Dis, ser, ta, tion. Stress on ta.
dis-ur-TAY-shuhn
/ˌdɪsɚˈteɪʃən/
Dissertation is pronounced dis-ur-TAY-shuhn (/ˌdɪsɚˈteɪʃən/). It has four syllables (Dis-ser-ta-tion), with the stress on "ta". Dissertation is a long, formal written report presenting original research and argument, typically required as part of a doctoral or advanced degree. It is a substantial scholarly document that defends a particular thesis, often involving extensive literature review, methodology, findings, and discussion. The term is used primarily in academic contexts and signals serious, rigorous scholarship.
nounDissertation is a long, formal written report presenting original research and argument, typically required as part of a doctoral or advanced degree. It is a substantial scholarly document that defends a particular thesis, often involving extensive literature review, methodology, findings, and discussion. The term is used primarily in academic contexts and signals serious, rigorous scholarship.
"She defended her dissertation before the committee after years of study."
"The university stored all doctoral dissertations in the library archive."
"Her dissertation explored the impact of climate policy on urban resilience."
Pronunciation is dɪsɚˈteɪʃən. Stress on the third syllable: dis-sər-TEI-tion. Start with /d/ followed by a reduced /ɪ/ in the first syllable; /s/ blends with /ɚ/ for the second syllable; the main stress is on /teɪ/; end with /ʃən/ (shən). Audio reference: you can hear it on Pronounce or Forvo, and in dictionaries like Cambridge and Oxford’s audio sections.
Common mistakes include misplacing stress on the second syllable (dis-SER-tation) instead of the third (dis-sər-TEI-tion), and mispronouncing the /teɪ/ as /tiː/ or /ʃən/ as /ən/ with a reduced vowel. To correct: keep the main stress on the third syllable; produce /teɪ/ as a clear, long vowel with a mid- to high-front articulation; end with a crisp /ʃən/ and a lightly reduced final vowel.
In US and UK alike, the stress pattern is the same (third syllable). US /dɪsɚˈteɪʃən/ tends to rhyme the -tion with /-ʃən/ and uses a rhotacized middle /ɚ/; UK /dɪsəˈteɪʃən/ has a more centralized schwa in the second syllable and less rhoticity. In Australian English, expect similar US-like rhotics, slightly broader vowel spaces, and a clipped final /ən/. Overall, vowel quality and rhoticity influence the listener’s perception more than the syllable count.
The difficulty lies in the three-syllable rhythm with a strong mid-front vowel followed by a long /eɪ/ diphthong, and a final unstressed /ən/. The sequence dis- + ser- can trick learners into placing primary stress too early (dis- sER-). Also, the /ɪ/ in the first syllable can be reduced in fast speech, making it sound like /dɪsə-/ rather than a crisp /dɪsɚ/. Practice focusing on the /ˈteɪ/ peak and the /ʃən/ ending with a light schwa.
A unique feature is the irregular syllable boundary around -si-: it involves a light /sɪ/ leading into the /ˈteɪ/ stress nucleus, so you should avoid a heavy, clipped /sɪ/ and let the /s/ smoothly connect to the /ɚ/ of the second syllable. The sequence /ˌdɪsɚˈteɪʃən/ is the standard pattern; keep the /ʃ/ sound clear before the final /ən/ and avoid turning it into /ʃən/ with extra emphasis.
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- US: rhotic /ɚ/ in the second syllable; keep the /ɚ/ vowel slightly more rounded and voiced. - UK: non-rhotic typical; the second syllable uses a reduced schwa, and the /t/ is a clear alveolar stop transitioning to /eɪ/. - AU: similar to US but with slightly broader vowels and a potential pocket of reduced rhotics in rapid speech. IPA references: US dɪsɚˈteɪʃən, UK dɪsəˈteɪʃən, AU dɪsəˈteɪʃən. - General tip: maintain primary stress on the /teɪ/ to ensure intelligibility across accents.
Dissertation derives from the Latin dissertation-, from dissertationem, meaning a weighing or weighing up of arguments, from dis- (apart, in different directions) + certare (to strive, to contend). The root certare evolves into French disserter, then Middle French disserter, connoting a formal argument or debate, which entered English as dissertation in the 15th century. The early sense involved a thorough examination or disputation on a subject. By the 18th century, the term shifted toward the modern meaning: a lengthy, formally structured scholarly thesis submitted for a doctorate or other advanced degree. Throughout its history, the word retained its core idea of careful argumentation and evidence-based analysis, expanding in universities worldwide as graduate research became a central rite of scholarly achievement.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Dissertation" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Dissertation" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Dissertation"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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