4 syllables: ex, po, si, tion. Stress on si.
/ˌɛkspəˈzɪʃən/
Say it backExposition is a formal explanation or detailed description of a subject, often used in writing or discourse to set forth information, ideas, or arguments clearly. It can refer to a comprehensive display or a public event, such as a world’s fair or a large-scale demonstration. In literature and film, exposition provides background and context to inform the audience.
"The exposition at the science fair drew a crowd of curious students."
"The novel begins with a vivid exposition of the protagonist’s childhood."
"During the lecture, the professor delivered careful exposition on the origins of the theory."
Pronounce as /ˌeks.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/ in US and UK; Australian follows the same consonants with a very similar rhythm. Primary stress on the third syllable: ex-po-si-tion, but the main stress lands on the second-to-last syllable: -zi- in pəˈzɪʃ- so: eks-puh-ZISH-ən. Start with /ˌeks/ as a quick syllable, then a light /pə/, followed by stressed /ˈzɪʃ/ and finishing with /ən/. Visualize: eks-puh-ZISH-ən. Audio reference: consult Cambridge/Oxford pronunciations or Forvo for native speaker samples.
Two frequent errors are misplacing stress and mispronouncing the middle consonant cluster. People often say eks-PO-si-tion or ex-po-SI-tion, shifting the stress to the wrong syllable. Correct by stressing the second-to-last syllable: eks-puh-ZISH-ən, with a clear /z/ followed by a soft /ɪ/ and a schwa. Another pitfall is blending /zɪ/ into /zi/; keep /ˈzɪʃ/ for accurate rhythm. Practice with minimal pairs and record yourself.
In US English, the second syllable bears the primary stress as /ˌɛks.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/. UK/General British tends to reduce the first vowel more and keep a tight /ɪ/ in the penultimate syllable: /ˌeks.pəˈzɪʃ.ən/, with less rhoticity influence. Australian English generally mirrors US/UK patterns but may have slightly more vowel relaxation in the first syllable and a non-rhotic tendency affecting vowels around /ə/; the main stress remains on -zɪʃ-. For all, the /z/ and /ʃ/ sequences are key markers.
The challenge lies in the multi-syllabic structure with a three-consonant sequence -z-i-ʃ- at the nucleus and the mid-front vowel in /pə/ before it. Your mouth must transition smoothly from /p/ to a voiced /z/ and then to the affricate /ʃ/, all while maintaining a stable schwa. The secondary stress pattern and non-initial accent demand careful rhythm. Practice separating the clusters slowly, then speed up while maintaining precise articulation.
Does the word ever reduce to 'expose' in rapid speech? No—the noun/expository sense keeps the full ending. In careful speech, you’ll articulate -sition as /-zɪʃən/ with a clear /ɪ/ before the /ʃ/. In connected speech, some speakers reduce the /ə/ in the middle syllable slightly, but avoid collapsing the /z/ and /ʃ/ into a single sound. Maintain the /z/ and /ʃ/ sequence for clarity.
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Exposition comes from the Latin expositio, from exponere meaning “to set forth, explain.” Exponere itself is a combination of ex- “out, forth” and ponere “to place.” The English form appeared in the 15th century, originally meaning a setting forth or exposition of a subject in academic or rhetorical contexts. Over time, the sense broadened to include public displays (exhibitions) and, in literature, the act of exposing or explaining background information within a narrative. The word sits at the intersection of rhetoric and display: to expose ideas clearly is central to persuasive or informative discourse. Historically, “exposition” was used in scholastic, philosophical, and later architectural contexts to describe deliberate “placing forth” of content, with first known uses recorded in Middle English texts before becoming common in modern usage across academic, artistic, and public-sphere domains.
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Words that rhyme with "exposition"
-ion sounds
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