3 syllables: Excla, ma, tion Mark. Stress on ma.
iks-kluh-MAY-shuhn-mahrk
/ˌɪkˈskləˈmeɪʃən mɑɹk/
Exclamation Mark is pronounced iks-kluh-MAY-shuhn-mahrk (/ˌɪkˈskləˈmeɪʃən mɑɹk/). It has three syllables (Excla-ma-tion Mark), with the stress on "ma". Exclamation Mark is a punctuation symbol used to express strong emotion or emphasis, typically placed at the end of an exclamatory sentence. In typography and writing, it signals heightened intonation or surprise rather than introducing a spoken phrase. The term combines exclamation (a sudden cry or shout) with mark (a symbol), and is commonly referred to as a 'bang' in certain contexts.
nounExclamation Mark is a punctuation symbol used to express strong emotion or emphasis, typically placed at the end of an exclamatory sentence. In typography and writing, it signals heightened intonation or surprise rather than introducing a spoken phrase. The term combines exclamation (a sudden cry or shout) with mark (a symbol), and is commonly referred to as a 'bang' in certain contexts.
"- She won the lottery, and she shouted, ‘Yes!’ at the top of her lungs, an exclamation mark framing her joy."
"- The sign read, ‘Danger!’ and I froze, unsure what came next."
"- He tripped on the curb and yelled, ‘Watch out!’—an exclamation mark punctuating his warning."
Phonetically, say /ˌɛkˌskləˈmeɪ.ʃən ˈmɑːrk/. Stress is on the third syllable of exclamation and on mark. Start with a light ‘eks’ + ‘kla’ with tongue high, then ‘muh’ and a clear ‘shun’ for -ation. The word 'mark' is a single stressed syllable. Think: ex-CLA-ma-tion MARK. In natural speech, the phrase often reduces to ‘eks-kluh-MAY-shn mark’ in fast careful speech. IPA-guided cues: /ˌɛkˌskləˈmeɪ.ʃən/ for exclamation, /ˈmɑːk/ or /ˈmɑrk/ for mark.
Two frequent errors: 1) Slurring the -ation ending: say /ˈeɪ.ʃən/ as a quick, uncertain syllable. Correct it by pronouncing /ˈmeɪ.ʃən/ with a clear ‘may-shən’ sound. 2) Diminishing the stress on the first word: ensure you carry the contour of /ˌɛkˌsklə-/ by giving it a light start but not a full reduction. Practice by isolating each word: exclamation /ˌɛkˈskləːˌmeɪ.ʃən/ and mark /ˈmɑːk/.
In US English, ‘exclamation’ often uses a stronger /æ/ in ‘ex-’, and the second syllable is clear with /ˌskləˈmeɪ/. The ‘mark’ is typically /mɑrk/ with rhotic r. UK English tends to a less pronounced rhoticity and a slightly softer vowel in /ˈmɑːk/; the /æ/ in ex- remains, but the -ation may sound more like /-ˈeɪ.ʃən/. Australian English shares rhotic tendencies but often features broader vowel qualities, with /ˈmɑːk/ and a shorter, more centralized second syllable in exclamation. Overall, vowels shift subtly: US /ˌɛkˌskləˈmeɪ.ʃən/ vs UK /ˌɛkˌskləˈmeɪ.ʃən/ and AU /ˌɛkˌskləˈmeɪ.ʃən/; rhoticity affects the final /r/ in mark.
Because the phrase packs multi-syllabic stress and a tricky -ation ending: /ˌæˈkleɪ.ʃən/ with a cluster /skl/ right after eks. The main challenge is coordinating the -ation suffix with the 'ex' cluster and the final /mɑːk/ or /mɑrk/, which can lead to reduced vowels or swallowing sounds in rapid speech. Practicing by isolating exclamation and mark separately, then combining, helps stabilize the sequence and keeps the 'shun' sound clear.
A unique feature is the strong consonant cluster in the ex- prefix when followed by -clamation; the /ks/ sequence after e- demands precise tongue position, with the tongue tip touching the alveolar ridge for the /k/ and the back of the tongue for the /skl/ blend. The combination yields a crisp /ˌɛkˌskləˈmeɪ.ʃən/, requiring a momentary voiceless cluster before the vowel onset. Emphasize the 'shun' syllable to avoid mispronouncing as ‘ex-claa-ment mark’.
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The term exclamation originates from the Latin exclamare, meaning to cry out or shout out. In English, exclamation began as a descriptor for acts of shouting, and by the 15th century it was used to refer to expressions of strong feeling. The word mark derives from Old English mar(c) meaning 'sign' or 'signal,' later evolving to denote punctuation marks. The combined form exclamation mark appeared during the 16th–17th centuries in typesetting and grammar texts to distinguish the punctuation that accompanies strong emotion from other sentence-ending marks. First known printed occurrences align with early modern English grammars that categorized punctuation by function, with the exclamation mark signaling forceful intonation and emotional intensity in writing. Over time, its usage broadened beyond literary exclamations to include warnings and emphatic commands, becoming a standard symbol in many languages that adopt the Latin script.
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Words that rhyme with "Exclamation Mark"
-ark sounds
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