3 syllables: Ex, cur, sions. Stress on cur.
ik-SKUR-zhuhnz
/ɪkˈskɝʒənz/
Excursions is pronounced ik-SKUR-zhuhnz (/ɪkˈskɝʒənz/). It has three syllables (Ex-cur-sions), with the stress on "cur". Excursions is the plural noun for brief trips or outings, typically away from one’s usual environment for leisure or exploration. Often used to describe organized trips, tours, or deviations from a main activity. The term carries a sense of travel or deviation rather than a fixed itinerary, and can imply learning or sightseeing experiences.
nounExcursions is the plural noun for brief trips or outings, typically away from one’s usual environment for leisure or exploration. Often used to describe organized trips, tours, or deviations from a main activity. The term carries a sense of travel or deviation rather than a fixed itinerary, and can imply learning or sightseeing experiences.
- You will frequently misplace primary stress on the first syllable; ensure the stress is on the second syllable: ihk-SKUR-zhuhns. - The /ɜːr/ vowel may be reduced to /ə/ in rapid speech; practice maintaining a full vowel quality before /r/. - The /ʒ/ sound can be replaced with /ʃ/ or /z/; train to place your tongue near the hard palate and voice the sound.
How to Pronounce Excursions
"We took several excursions to the nearby hill towns during our vacation."
"Her corporate itinerary included weekend excursions to historical sites around the country."
"The students organized study excursions to the museum to complement the curriculum."
Pronounce as ihk-SKUR-zhuhnz. The primary stress is on the second syllable: /ɪkˈskɜːrʒənz/ in US and UK IPA; in Australia, it remains close to /ɪkˈskəːrʒənz/ with a slightly shorter /ɜː/ and a more pronounced /ʒ/ as in measure. Tip: start with a light, quick initial vowel, then compress the /skɜːr/ cluster, and finish with /zənz/ for the plural ending. Listen for the clean /ʒ/ before the /ənz/.
Common errors: 1) misplaced stress, saying ex-CUR-sions instead of ihk-SKUR-zhənz; 2) mispronouncing the /ɜːr/ as a flat /ɜː/ or /ə/ in non-rhotic contexts; 3) turning -sions into -shuns or -sions with a /s/ instead of /ʒ/. Correction: keep the strong /ɜːr/ or /ɜː/ quality in the second syllable, ensure the /ʒ/ sound (as in measure) for the /ʒənz/ ending, and end with a voiced z.
US tends to merge the /r/ in /ˈskɜr/ with an rhotic /ɜr/; UK non-rhotic tends to weaken r after vowel so /ˈskɜːːʒənz/ with less pronounced rhoticity; Australian follows a similar pattern to UK but with slightly more rounded vowels and often clearer /ɜː/ in stressed syllables. Overall, the /ɜːr/ vs /əː/ difference is subtle; the /ʒ/ remains stable across accents.
Two main challenges: the mixed consonant cluster SK + ɜːr creating an unfamiliar alveo-palatal sequence, and the /ʒ/ sound followed by a schwa-like /ənz/ that isn’t common in many languages. Also, the plural /-zənz/ adds a cluster and voice alternation. Practice with minimal pairs to stabilize the /skɜː/ portion and train the lips and tongue to settle into the /ʒ/ before /ənz/.
Do you pronounce the second syllable with a syllabic /ɜː/ or a reduced /ə/? The preferred approach in careful English is /ɪkˈskɜːrʒənz/ (US/UK), but in rapid speech you may hear /ɪkˈskəːʒənz/ in some regional accents; keep the /ɜː/ vowel clear in careful speech, and ensure the /ʒ/ is pronounced distinctly before the /ənz/.
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- US: rhotic rule applies; maintain /r/ in /ɜr/ with a clear tongue root and slightly raised back of the tongue. - UK: less rhoticity; the /r/ is weaker; keep the /ɜː/ length and a soft /ʒ/. - AU: similar to UK, but vowels tend to be more centralized; keep /ɜː/ and the /ʒ/ robust.
Excursions comes from the Latin excursio, from ex- 'out' + currere 'to run, to flow'. The Latin term referred to a running out, a departure from a main line of travel or duty. It entered English in the 16th century via Old French excursion, denoting a short journey or foray. Over time, the sense narrowed to describe organized trips or deviations from a routine, often for pleasure or instruction. The plural excursions preserves the general sense of multiple forays rather than a single trip, and the word is commonly used in travel, education, and corporate contexts. The pronunciation and spelling have remained relatively stable since the early modern period, with the main stresses and vowel qualities typical of English loanwords from French-adjacent Latin. In contemporary usage, excursions typically imply shorter, sometimes optional trips that supplement a primary activity rather than replacing it.
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Words that rhyme with "Excursions"
-ons sounds
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