3 syllables: E, ges, tion. Stress on ges.
ee-JES-chuhn
/iːˈdʒɛstʃən/
Egestion is pronounced ee-JES-chuhn (/iːˈdʒɛstʃən/). It has three syllables (E-ges-tion), with the stress on "ges". Egestion is the process of discharging waste from the digestive tract. In biology, it refers to the elimination of undigested or indigestible substances from the body. As a term, it describes a biological act and is used in clinical and academic contexts to discuss bowel movements and related physiology.
nounEgestion is the process of discharging waste from the digestive tract. In biology, it refers to the elimination of undigested or indigestible substances from the body. As a term, it describes a biological act and is used in clinical and academic contexts to discuss bowel movements and related physiology.
How to Pronounce Egestion
"The study described the final stage of digestion, focusing on egestion once absorbed nutrients had been processed."
"In mammals, egestion typically involves coordinated muscular movements to expel waste."
"The researcher noted that anomalies in egestion can indicate digestive disorders."
You say /iˈdʒes.tʃən/ (US) or /ɪˈdʒes.tʃən/ (UK/AU), with stress on the second syllable. Start with a short “ee” or “ih” sound, then the voiced postalveolar affricate /dʒ/ as in “judge,” followed by /es/ and the /tʃən/ cluster as in “session” without a strong vowel between. The second syllable bears primary stress and the final syllable ends with a light /ən/.
Common errors include misplacing stress (saying /ˌiːdʒeˈstiən/ with stress on the first syllable) and misarticulating /dʒ/ as a hard /j/ or /t/–sound combination, leading to /ijes'tion/ or /edˈgestən/. Another frequent slip is reducing /tʃ/ to /t/ or /ʃ/; keep the /tʃ/ as a single affricate. Final /ən/ should be unstressed and light. Practice slowly, then speed up while keeping the second syllable stressed and the /dʒ/ and /tʃ/ clusters clean.
In US, you’ll hear /iˈdʒes.tʃən/ with a clear /ɪ/ initial vowel and strong /tʃ/ onset; UK and AU typically use /ɪˈdʒes.tʃən/ with a more centralized or clipped first syllable and a debated rhoticity depending on region, but the /tʃən/ at end remains. Rhotic vs non-rhotic is less about this word than surrounding vowels; nevertheless, non-rhotic speakers may drop post-vocalic r, which isn’t present here. Across all three, the essential sequence /dʒe/ + /stʃ/ is preserved.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /dʒe/ leading into /stʃən/, which requires precise tongue positioning to blend /dʒ/ (voiced palato-alveolar affricate) with /tʃ/ (voiceless palato-alveolar affricate) without creating a hiatus. The sequence /e/ to /stʃ/ can slow the jaw and tongue if not planned. Additionally, the final syllable /ən/ is unstressed and quick, so connected speech can obscure the rhythm.
A unique feature is the tight transition from /e/ to /stʃ/ in the second and third segments, producing /es.tʃ/ as a smooth consonant cluster; you’ll often hear a subtle assimilation where the /s/ may be slightly voiced before /tʃ/. Maintain a clean /dʒ/ onset, avoid turning /dʒe/ into a long /j/ glide, and ensure the second syllable is clearly stressed.
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Egestion derives from the Greek roots e-, meaning 'out, forth', and genesis, meaning 'origin, birth' (from gone, genesis). The combining form e- + gest- (from Latin gesta, “things carried”) conveys conveying material outward. The term entered scientific vocabulary in the 19th century with the rise of physiology as a discipline, reflecting a shift from general digestion to explicit processes of elimination. Early usage framed egestion as the muscular and neural mechanisms by which indigestible matter is expelled from the body. Over time, egestion has been distinguished from digestion and absorption, emphasizing the excretory function rather than nutrient processing. First known uses appear in anatomical texts and physiology treatises of the 1800s, gradually standardizing in modern biology, medicine, and zoology to denote the outward expulsion of waste from the alimentary canal. As medical understanding advanced, egestion also acquired broader linguistic venues, appearing in comparative anatomy, veterinary science, and educational resources to describe a universal bodily process. The pronunciation “e-ges-tion” mirrors the Latin-influenced suffix -tion, while assimilation of the initial e- sounds in rapid speech contributes to the common /iˈdʒes.tʃən/ form in many dialects.
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Words that rhyme with "Egestion"
-ion sounds
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