3 syllables: ex, ert, ion. Stress on ert.
/ɪɡˈzɝtʃən/
Say it backExertion is the act of applying energy or effort to achieve a result. It denotes strenuous physical or mental work and emphasizes the intensity of the effort rather than the outcome. The term often appears in formal writing and discussions of labor, athleticism, or endurance. It implies sustained, purposeful activity rather than casual movement.
"Her exertion during the marathon left her exhausted but proud of her achievement."
"The workers completed the task with visible exertion, sweat on their brows and steady breathing."
"He spoke with great exertion, trying to finish his sentence before the noise resumed."
Pronounce it as /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃən/ in US spelling. Here, the primary stress is on the second syllable: ex-ˈert-ion, with 'er' as a mid-back vowel; the 'tion' ending is /ʃən/. Start with a light initial /ɪ/ sound, move into /ɡzər/ (g as in go, z as in zebra, r as in release), then finish with /ʃən/. Listen for a crisp /tʃ/ blend in rapid speech; the common pronunciation is ex-ˈzər-tʃən in some accents, but standard American/British is /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃən/.
Common errors include: 1) Putting stress on the first syllable (EX-er-tion) instead of the second (ex-ˈert-ion); 2) Slurring the /t/ into the following /ʃ/ making /tʃ/ or /ɹ/ blends, so it sounds like /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃən/ vs /ɪɡˈzɜːrtʃən/; 3) Mispronouncing the 'er' as a short /ɛ/ rather than the mid /ɜː/ vowel. To correct, place primary stress on the second syllable, keep /t/ clearly released before /ʃ/ and ensure the /ɜː/ quality in stressed syllable.
US: /ɪɡˈzɜːrtʃən/ with rhotic /r/ and a clear /tʃ/ before the final /ən/. UK: /ɪɡˈzɜːtʃən/ often with non-rhoticity; /r/ is weaker except before vowels. AU: /ˈɛɡˌzɜːtʃən/ or /ɪgˈzɜːtʃən/, with vowel height differences and a more clipped final syllable. The key differences are rhoticity and vowel quality in the stressed /ɜː/ and the handling of the /t/ + /ʃ/ cluster; Australians may display a more centralized vowel in some speakers.
The difficulty lies in the /gz/ cluster transitioning into /zɜːr/ and then the /tʃ/ onset of the final syllable; many speakers insert extra vowel sounds or devoice /r/ in non-rhotic accents. The /ɜː/ vowel in the stressed syllable is central to accuracy, and the /t/ is followed by /ʃ/ rather than a plain /t/, which can tempt mispronunciation. Focus on smooth consonant transitions and accurate placement of the primary stress on the second syllable.
Does the word ever reduce or lose the /t/ before the /ʃ/ in connected speech, or is it always /tʃ/? In careful speech you’ll typically hear /tʃ/ as part of the /ʃən/ ending due to assimilation, but the standard form remains /ɡzɜːr/ + /ʃən/, with a clear /t/ release before /ʃ/ in careful speech. The nuance is the degree of blending in rapid speech.
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Exertion comes from the Latin ex- meaning ‘out, forth’ and the verb term per- tendere, which means ‘to stretch, extend.’ In Latin, exertus (from ex- + tendere) referred to something stretched out or exerted, especially force. In English, exert rose from Old French exert, via Latin, carrying the sense of applying power or force to accomplish something. Over time, exertion broadened beyond physical force to mental or strenuous effort, capturing any sustained push toward a goal. The word first appeared in English in the 14th–15th centuries, often in religious or philosophical texts describing moral or arduous labor, and later became common in scientific, athletic, and everyday contexts to describe energetic expenditure and the exertion of effort.
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Words that rhyme with "exertion"
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