3 syllables: e, lec, tion. Stress on lec.
il-EK-shuhn
/ɪˈlɛkʃən/
election is pronounced il-EK-shuhn (/ɪˈlɛkʃən/). It has three syllables (e-lec-tion), with the stress on "lec". Election refers to the process by which people vote to choose a candidate or decide an outcome in a formal, organized election. It can also denote a specific voting event or the act of electing someone to office. The term encompasses the mechanism, campaign dynamics, and the legal framework surrounding choosing representatives or measures. It is a noun in common usage, with related forms like “elect” and “electoral.”.
Election refers to the process by which people vote to choose a candidate or decide an outcome in a formal, organized election. It can also denote a specific voting event or the act of electing someone to office. The term encompasses the mechanism, campaign dynamics, and the legal framework surrounding choosing representatives or measures. It is a noun in common usage, with related forms like “elect” and “electoral.”
- Misplacing stress on the first syllable, saying /ˈɛl.ɪk.ʃən/ or /ɪˈlɛk.ʃən/; fix by anchoring the strong second syllable with a clear /ˈlɛk/ before the /ʃən/ tail. - Slurring the /k/ into /tʃ/ resulting in /ˈlɛkʃən/; correct with a short, clean /k/ release and a firm pause before /ʃ/. - Reducing the second syllable too much, leading to /ɪˈlek.ən/; practice by holding the /ʃ/ slightly longer and finishing with a crisp /ən/. - Not articulating the /l/ clearly, making the word sound like “elec-shun”; ensure you produce a clear /l/ by placing the tongue tip against the alveolar ridge with a light breath passing around the sides of the tongue. - Skipping the /t/ sound in quick speech, resulting in /ɪˈlɛʃən/; emphasize the /t/ release between /k/ and /ʃ/.
"The election results will be announced tonight after all precincts report in."
"A peaceful election is often seen as a sign of a mature democracy."
"She volunteered to work at the polling station during the election."
Pronounced as /ɪˈlɛk.ʃən/. Stress is on the second syllable: e-LEC-tion. Start with a short, clipped initial /ɪ/ sound, then /ˈlɛk/ with a clear /l/ and /k/ preceding the /ʃən/ sequence. The final syllable is a reduced /ən/. Imagine saying “ih-LEK-shn” with the “sh” sound clearly articulated. You can listen to native pronunciations on pronunciation resources and dictionary audio.
Common errors include: 1) Misplacing stress, saying /ɪˈlɛk.tʃən/ with undue emphasis on the first syllable; 2) Slurring /ˈlɛk/ into a hard /tʃ/ or mispronouncing the /t/ as a flap; 3) Dropping the second syllable, producing /ɪˈlɛk/. To correct: keep /ˈlɛk/ crisp and separate from the /tʃən/ by maintaining a brief pause or breath between; ensure the /t/ is released before /ʃ/ and practice the transition clearly: /ɪˈlɛk.ʃən/.
In US and UK, the pronunciation is /ɪˈlɛkʃən/ with a short /e/ in the second syllable and a clear /tʃ/ cluster: 'e-LEK-shun'. Australian tends to maintain the same nucleus but may have a slightly more centralized vowel in the first syllable, sounding closer to /ɪˈlɛk.ʃən/ or /iˈlɛk.ʃən/ depending on speaker. The rhoticity does not dramatically alter this word—the /r/ is not present. The main differences are vowel quality and vowel duration, with UK often presenting more clipped vowels in rapid speech. Listen to reputable dictionaries to compare.
The difficulty comes from the /ˈlɛk/ cluster followed by /tʃən/. Some speakers merge /k/ and /tʃ/ if speaking quickly, producing /ˈlɛk.ʃən/ or /ˈlɛkʃən/. The sequence /-e- / + /l/ + /ɛ/ can also feel awkward when the vowel in the first syllable is reduced or lengthened in connected speech. Another challenge is the final unstressed schwa /ən/ which tends to be minimized or swallowed in rapid conversation. Focusing on keeping the /k/ firmly released and articulating the /ʃ/ before a clean /ən/ helps. Practicing the transition between /k/ and /ʃ/ is key.
Yes. The word centers on a stressed syllable coinciding with a consonant cluster ending in the /ʃ/ sound before a weak /ən/ ending. The challenge is not the individual sounds but the rapid, two-consonant transition from /k/ to /tʃ/ and then to /ən/ in fluent speech. You’ll benefit from practicing minimal pairs that contrast /k/ and /tʃ/ in the same environment, and from drills that emphasize the crisp release of the /t/ before /ʃ/.
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- US: rhotic-friendly baseline; keep /ɪ/ in the first syllable short, with a crisp /l/ and strong /ɛ/ in /ˈlɛk/. The /t/ remains a distinct release before /ʃ/. - UK: more clipped vowels with less vowel length; maintain /ɪ/ or /i/ in the first syllable depending on speaker; still keep /ˈlɛk/ strong and ensure /t/ releases clearly. - AU: tends toward slightly more centralized vowels; keep the /ɪ/ vs /i/ distinction; ensure /ɪˈlɛk.ʃən/ with a precise /t/ release. IPA cues: US /ɪˈlɛk.ʃən/, UK /ɪˈlɛk.ʃən/, AU /iˈlɛk.ʃən/. - General tip: practice with a mirror to monitor tongue position, and use a slow-to-fast progression to stabilize the rhythm.
Election derives from the Latin electio, from eligere “to choose, pick out, elect.” Eligere combines e- 'out' and legere 'to pick, read'. In Late Latin, electio referred to a choosing, selection, or reading of law. The term entered Old French as election and then Middle English with the same sense of choosing or vote. The broader sense of a formal process of choosing representatives emerged in the medieval and modern periods as governance and parliamentary systems evolved. The word’s core concept centers on deliberate selection by a group, reinforced by procedural rules and legitimacy conferred by law. The transition from general “choice” to “vote” reflects political codification where the act of choosing is conducted through an organized, often regulated, mechanism (candidates, ballots, polling). First known uses in English appear in the 14th to 15th centuries in religious and civic contexts, with political usage strengthening in the early modern era as democratic institutions expanded. By the 18th and 19th centuries, “election” had become commonplace in parliamentary democracies and later in broader electoral systems worldwide. Modern usage frequently collocates with “election campaign,” “election results,” and “election day,” maintaining the root sense of a formal choosing process.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "election" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "election" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "election"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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