3 syllables: Ex, haus, tion. Stress on haus.
ig-ZAWS-chuhn
/ɪˈɡzɔstʃən/
Exhaustion is pronounced ig-ZAWS-chuhn (/ɪˈɡzɔstʃən/). It has three syllables (Ex-haus-tion), with the stress on "haus". Exhaustion is the state of extreme fatigue or depletion, often resulting from prolonged physical or mental effort. It describes a condition where energy is exhausted, attention wanes, and motivation can drop, sometimes accompanied by physical symptoms. In everyday use, it can refer to both temporary tiredness and chronic weariness that affects functioning.
nounExhaustion is the state of extreme fatigue or depletion, often resulting from prolonged physical or mental effort. It describes a condition where energy is exhausted, attention wanes, and motivation can drop, sometimes accompanied by physical symptoms. In everyday use, it can refer to both temporary tiredness and chronic weariness that affects functioning.
"Her exhaustion after running a marathon was evident in her slow walk and heavy sighs."
"The debate wore down the participants, leading to mental exhaustion by the end of the day."
"After weeks of overtime, she faced burnout and exhaustion that required medical attention."
Pronounce it as /ɪɡˈzɔːs.tən/ (US) or /ɪɡˈzɔːs.tɪən/ (UK/AU). The primary stress is on the second syllable,
Mistakes include misplacing stress (e.g., ex-HAUST-ion), pronouncing the final vowel as a full /ɒ/ or /oʊ/ instead of a schwa or reduced /ən/; and merging /z/ with the following /ɒ/ making /ɡˈzɔːz/. Correct by stressing the second syllable and ending with a relaxed, unstressed schwa plus nasal /ən/.
US typically uses /ɪɡˈzɔːs.tən/ with a clearer /t/ and final /ən/. UK/AU often realize the final as /ɪən/ or /ən/ and may reduce the second syllable vowels slightly, with non-rhoticity leading to subtle differences in linking and vowel rounding. The main distinction is vowel quality in the second syllable and the realization of the final syllable.
Main challenges involve the -haust- cluster, the stress shift to the second syllable, and the subtle vowel in the final syllable. The sequence /zɔːs/ can be tricky for non-native speakers, and the final unstressed /ən/ can reduce to a quick schwa. Practice by focusing on separating syllables: ex-HAUST-ion, then blend.
Is the middle /z/ connected to the following /t/? Some speakers link the /z/ to the /t/ leading to a /z t/ sequence, especially in rapid speech. To avoid distortion, keep the /z/ clear and separate the /t/ with a light release, ensuring the second syllable remains dominant in duration but not overextended.
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US: clear, slightly rhotic | UK/AU: non-rhotic; vowel in second syllable slightly tenser in UK; final /ən/ is more schwa-like in AU. Use IPA-based drills: /ɪˈzɔːs.ən/ (US) vs /ɪˈzɔːs.tɪən/ (UK/AU). Ensure the second syllable is stressed; reduce the final vowel.
Exhaustion comes from the verb exhaust, which in turn derives from Latin exhaurire, meaning to drain, draw out, or drain off. The Latin ex- (out) + haurire (to drain, draw) merged through Old French eschaussier or eschausséier to the Middle English exhauscioun, evolving into exhaustion in modern English. The core sense shifted from a literal act of draining a resource (air, water, energy) to a figurative depletion of strength or vitality. The term began appearing in English medical and literary contexts in the 16th and 17th centuries as medical writers described states of extreme fatigue. By the 19th century, exhaustion broadened to describe chronic states of tiredness not necessarily tied to a specific illness. Today, exhaustion encompasses physical, mental, or emotional depletion and is used across clinical and colloquial registers. First known uses appear in medical treatises and travel writings, with the modern noun form stabilizing in late 18th to 19th centuries as standard English vocabulary for fatigue and depletion.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Exhaustion" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Exhaustion"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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