5 syllables: Ex, as, per, a, tion. Stress on a.
ek-sas-pur-AY-shuhn
/ˌɛˌksæspɚˈeɪʃən/
Exasperation is pronounced ek-sas-pur-AY-shuhn (/ˌɛˌksæspɚˈeɪʃən/). It has five syllables (Ex-as-per-a-tion), with the stress on "a". Exasperation is a strong feeling of irritation or annoyance, often accompanied by frustration and a sense of being overwhelmed. It typically arises from persistent problems or unresponsive situations and can manifest in exasperated verbal outbursts or expressions. The term conveys intensity beyond mere irritation, highlighting a cumulative build-up of stress.
nounExasperation is a strong feeling of irritation or annoyance, often accompanied by frustration and a sense of being overwhelmed. It typically arises from persistent problems or unresponsive situations and can manifest in exasperated verbal outbursts or expressions. The term conveys intensity beyond mere irritation, highlighting a cumulative build-up of stress.
How to Pronounce Exasperation
"The repeated delays caused exasperation among the commuters."
"Her exasperation was evident as she scanned the broken device for the third time."
"He sighed in exasperation when the instructions contradicted themselves."
Pronounce as ex-AS-per-AY-shun (US/UK: /ˌɛɡˌzæs.pəˈreɪ.ʃən/). The primary stress lands on the third syllable: as-PER-ation, with a secondary stress on the first? Actually the pattern is ex-AS-pə-RĀ-shən in many accents. For clarity: /ˌɛɡˌzæs.pəˈreɪ.ʃən/ where the main stress is on the fourth syllable? To simplify: ex-AS-per-AY-tion. Aim for a clear AY in the -ation suffix and an unreleased final schwa in -tion. Audio reference: [Pronounce or Forvo entry for exasperation].
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable, e.g., EX-as-per-ation or ex-AS-pə-RAY-shən, and flattening the -ration ending to -ray-tion. Another mistake is pronouncing the middle /z/ as /s/ or rushing the -ation so it doesn't carry the /ˈreɪ/ vowel. To correct: keep the primary stress on the /ˈreɪ/ syllable and ensure the /æ/ in /zæsp/ stays crisp, then finish with a clear /reɪ.ʃən/ or /ˈreɪ.ʃən/ depending on your accent.
In US and UK, the main stress is on the third syllable, with a clear /ˈreɪ.ʃən/ contour at the end; rhoticity affects /r/ in the middle cluster. US often preserves rhotic /r/ in the r-coloring of /rə/; UK may have a more non-rhotic or lighter /r/ depending on region. Australian may feature a slightly flatter /æ/ in /zæs/ and a more pronounced and prolonged /eɪ/ in -ate. Overall, the suffix -ation remains unstressed in many speakers, but the subtle differences in vowel lengths and rhoticity distinguish dialects. IPA references: US /ˌɛɡˌzæs.pəˈreɪ.ʃən/, UK /ˌɛkˌzæspəˈreɪ.ʃən/ (non-rhotic tendencies may reduce /r/).
Difficulties come from the three-syllable rhythm with a tense vowel in the /ˈreɪ/ portion and the cluster /zæsp/ followed by a light, unstressed -ation ending. The /z/ can blend with the schwa before -ation in rapid speech, and the long diphthong /eɪ/ in -reɪ. Additionally, the shift in stress across syllables can mislead learners into stressing the wrong part. Slow, segmented practice helps: isolate /ɪɡˌzæspəˈreɪ.ʃən/.
A key unique feature is the exact aspiration and timing of -ation: it commonly carries a late, rounded /eɪ/ and a soft -tion ending. Learners should watch the transition from /ə/ to /ˈreɪ.ʃən/ and keep the /ˈreɪ/ strong while the final /ʃən/ remains light. The middle /zæsp/ should be crisp, not blended into a longer /æspə/ sequence, to avoid losing the word’s bite in spoken English.
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Exasperation traces to the Latin exasperare, meaning to irritate or roughen, from ex- ‘thoroughly’ + aspre ‘rough, harsh’. The sense evolved through Old French as exacerber and later English borrowings. The word entered English in the 16th century with a meaning close to ‘to irritate’ or ‘to inflame’. By the 17th and 18th centuries, exasperation carried a stronger emotional charge, aligning with fatigue and irritation caused by persistent provocation. In modern usage, it denotes a heightened state of annoyance, often implying a loss of composure. The phonology settled on three syllables: ex-as-per-a-tion, though some speakers might reduce to exasper-ation in rapid speech. First known use in literature appears in early modern English writings discussing emotional states, with gradual standardization in print over the 1800s as psychology and everyday emotional discourse expanded.
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Words that rhyme with "Exasperation"
-ion sounds
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