4 syllables: Ex, ploi, ta, tion. Stress on ta.
ek-sploy-TAY-shuhn
/ˌɛksˌplɔɪˈteɪʃən/
Exploitation is pronounced ek-sploy-TAY-shuhn (/ˌɛksˌplɔɪˈteɪʃən/). It has four syllables (Ex-ploi-ta-tion), with the stress on "ta". Exploitation (noun) refers to the act of treating someone unfairly to benefit from their work or resources, or the act of utilizing something, often for unfair or selfish purposes. It can also denote the exploitation of natural resources. It encompasses contexts from social justice to economic practices, highlighting power dynamics and ethical concerns in how favors, labor, or assets are used.
nounExploitation (noun) refers to the act of treating someone unfairly to benefit from their work or resources, or the act of utilizing something, often for unfair or selfish purposes. It can also denote the exploitation of natural resources. It encompasses contexts from social justice to economic practices, highlighting power dynamics and ethical concerns in how favors, labor, or assets are used.
- Misplacing stress and saying eks-plo-IT-tion; correction: maintain primary stress on the -TEɪ- syllable. - Flattening the diphthong /ɔɪ/ into a simple /ɔ/ or /oʊ/; correction: keep /ɔɪ/ as a proper diphthong, linking to /teɪ/. - Adding an extra vowel between -loi- and -tion or releasing the final -tion as /ʃən/ rather than /ʃn̩/; correction: end with a short, unstressed schwa before -ʃn̩ or a clean syllabic n.
How to Pronounce Exploitation
"The company's exploitation of cheap labor sparked widespread protests."
"Environmental exploitation led to severe damage to the local ecosystem."
"Scholars debated the exploitation of colonial subjects in the 19th century."
Pronounce as eks-plo-i-TEY-shn̩, with primary stress on the fourth syllable TEY. IPA: US/UK/AU ɪkˌsplɔɪˈteɪʃn̩. Start with a short 'i' in eks, then a light 'sp' blend, a rounded 'loi' sounding like 'loy', then the 'tay' as in 'say', and finish with a subtle 'shn' syllable and a syllabic 'n'.
Two frequent errors: (1) misplacing the stress, tying it to the wrong syllable (often stressing -lo- or -te-). (2) pronouncing the 'oi' as a pure 'oh' rather than a diphthong; many say eks-plo-oh-TEY-tion. Correction: keep the diphthong in the second half: /ɪkˌsplɔɪˈteɪʃn̩/. Practice by isolating the -oy- sound in 'loi' as /ɔɪ/ and link to the final -tion with a light schwa before n.
US/UK/AU share the /ɪkˌsplɔɪˈteɪʃn̩/ skeleton, but rhotics and vowel qualities differ slightly. In US, you’ll hear a rhotic r-less or rhotic pronunciation depending on speaker; UK often uses a non-rhotic pattern with clearer /ɔɪ/ and a shorter /ɪ/ before /kl/. Australian tends toward a centralized vowel quality, with a subtle width in /ɔɪ/. Overall the primary stress remains on the -téɪ- syllable; yod-like linkage varies.
Two main challenges: the long two-part diphthong in the middle /ɔɪ/ and the final -ation cluster /ˈteɪʃn̩/ with a weak syllabic n. The sequence eks-ploi-ʃən requires smooth linking and a controlled release into -teɪ- and -ʃn̩. The consonant cluster after the vowel and final syllabic n can trap speakers; focus on maintaining the /l/ before the /ɔɪ/ without creating an extra syllable.
Yes. The word is a four-syllable noun with primary stress on the fourth syllable: eks-plo-i-TA-tion. The main challenge is keeping the /ɔɪ/ diphthong intact and ensuring the /teɪ/ is stressed rather than the surrounding syllables. Also note the syllabic n at the end: the final /n̩/ forms a quiet, syllabic consonant, so you should avoid adding an extra vowel after the 'n'.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "Exploitation"!
Exploitation originates from the French exploitation, derived from the verb exploiter, meaning to use or to take advantage of. The root exploiter traces to Latin explōtāre (to use up, to exploit), formed from ex- (out, thoroughly) and plōtāre (to plow, to till). In medieval usage, exploitation carried agricultural and resource-use connotations, then widening to include illicit or unethical use of labor or resources. By the 18th and 19th centuries, especially in economic and political discourse, exploitation referred to leveraging someone’s labor or assets for personal gain, often with formal or legal justifications. In the 20th century, as industrialization and colonialism expanded, the term acquired strong social and ethical dimensions, encompassing worker rights, colonial exploitation, and later, discussions of exploitation within capitalist systems and international trade. Today, exploitation frequently appears in academic fields like sociology, political economy, and critical theory, signaling power imbalances and ethical concerns around consent, benefit, and justice. First known uses in English surface in the 19th century, but the word’s French roots and Latin components show through in cognate terms across European languages. The word’s syllabic structure and stress pattern have influenced its pronunciation and integration into modern English discourse.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Exploitation" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Exploitation" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Exploitation" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "Exploitation"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
