5 syllables: Ex, ag, ger, a, tion. Stress on a.
ig-zaj-ur-AY-shuhn
/ɪˌɡzædʒɚˈeɪʃən/
Exaggeration is pronounced ig-zaj-ur-AY-shuhn (/ɪˌɡzædʒɚˈeɪʃən/). It has five syllables (Ex-ag-ger-a-tion), with the stress on "a". Exaggeration is a statement or representation that makes something seem much more significant or dramatic than it really is. It involves overstating facts or qualities, often for emphasis or humorous effect. The term typically implies a deliberate stretch of the truth rather than mere approximation, and it commonly appears in everyday speech and literature alike.
nounExaggeration is a statement or representation that makes something seem much more significant or dramatic than it really is. It involves overstating facts or qualities, often for emphasis or humorous effect. The term typically implies a deliberate stretch of the truth rather than mere approximation, and it commonly appears in everyday speech and literature alike.
- Overloading the first syllable or misplacing the primary stress on ex- or sag-; keep the main stress on -ration to reflect standard English pronunciation. - Mispronouncing the middle /dʒ/ as /tʃ/ or a flat /j/; practice by producing /dʒ/ with a brief stop and a voiced quality. - Final syllable reduction: do not drop the /ən/; keep a light but audible schwa plus nasal release. - Linked speech and fast tempo can blur the staccato quality; practice at a controlled tempo first, then accelerate slowly.
How to Pronounce Exaggeration
"Her stories are full of exaggeration, but they’re entertaining."
"Saying the hike was a 'three-day trek' is an exaggeration for dramatic flair."
"The ad hype was an exaggeration of the product’s features."
Pronounce as ɪɡˌsædʒəˈreɪʃən. Stress falls on the third syllable: ex- SAG-ger-ation, with secondary emphasis on the second syllable in natural speech. Start with a short, crisp 'ig' then a light 'saj' cluster, and end with 'ay-shən'. Mouth positions: start with a relaxed jaw, then raise the tongue for the 'dʒ' sound, and finish with a soft 'ən'. For reference, listen to native speech in clear diction using Pronounce or Forvo samples.
Common errors: 1) Overemphasizing the first syllable and flattening the stress pattern (ex-AG-geration) — correct by preserving primary stress on the third syllable. 2) Mispronouncing the 'dʒ' as a hard 'j' or 'g' sound (dʒ vs j) — articulate a voiced palato-alveolar affricate /dʒ/ with a brief stop. 3) Dropping the final syllable or reducing it to 'shn' — ensure the final /ən/ is a clear schwa with a light nasal release. Practice with slow, precise syllables to maintain the rhythm.
US/UK/AU share the same core phonemes, but there are subtle shifts. US typically uses a clearer /æ/ in the second syllable and a more rhotic, relaxed /r/ influence in connected speech; UK often has a shorter, tensed /æ/ and less rhotic influence in non-rhotic positions; AU tends toward a centralized /ə/ in unstressed vowels and a more clipped final syllable. The primary stress remains on the third syllable /ˌædʒəˈreɪ/. Listen to regional exemplars for subtle vowel qualities.
The difficulty centers on the three-consonant cluster at the start of the middle syllable (/dʒ/ after /s/), plus maintaining stress across three syllables while not reducing the final /ən/. The 'æ' vowel in the second syllable also challenges non-native speakers due to its lax quality and position between /æ/ and /ɛ/. Achieve accuracy by isolating the /dʒ/ sound, then practicing the sequence ex- SAG-ger-ation with deliberate, moderate tempo and clear enunciation of final schwa.
A useful, word-specific detail is that the suffix -tion reduces to /ʃən/ after the preceding consonant cluster, so you hear a quick /t/ release followed by /ʃən/. Ensure the /t/ is not fully released as a hard /t/ before the /ʃ/, which would flatten the rhythm. Emphasize the syllable boundary after /dʒə/ to avoid blending into /reɪ/.
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- US: Emphasize the rhotic, with a clear /ɹ/ before the final schwa; keep the /æ/ a bit more open. - UK: Slightly tenser /æ/ and less rhotic influence; use shorter, crisper /dʒ/ onset. - AU: More centralized unstressed vowels; aim for a neutral /ə/ in the final syllable and maintain the three-syllable rhythm. IPA cues: US /ɪɡˌsædʒəˈreɪʃən/, UK /ɪɡˌsædʒəˈreɪʃən/, AU /ɪɡˌsædʒəˈreɪʃən/. Focus on the /dʒ/ energy and final /ən/ clarity.
Exaggeration comes from the Late Latin exaggeratio, from exaggerare, meaning to heap up or heap more on. The prefix ex- intensifies the idea, while aggerare (to heap up) links to Latin aggere (a heap). The word entered English in the 16th century, originally signifying a piling on or intensifying. Over time, it shifted toward the sense of overstating facts or features beyond their true scale. The core notion is amplification for effect, rather than precise depiction. The evolution reflects a common rhetorical tool in oratory and literature, where exaggeration serves to persuade, entertain, or emphasize sentiment. Early uses often appeared in sermons and political discourse, expanding in prose and journalism as a recognizable device. By the 19th and 20th centuries, exaggeration also became a staple in satire and everyday colloquial speech, reinforcing its place as a familiar linguistic mechanism for emphasis, humor, or critique.
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Words that rhyme with "Exaggeration"
-ion sounds
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