3 syllables: ex, pul, sion. Stress on pul.
/ɪkˈspʌl.ʃən/
Say it backExpulsion is the act of forcing something out or ejecting, often by authority or force. It typically refers to removing people, objects, or substances from a space or organization, or the ejection of air or gas. The term implies a decisive, sometimes abrupt, removal process and is used in legal, medical, and physical contexts.
"The expulsion of air from the balloon caused it to shrink."
"They faced expulsion from the club after violating the rules."
"The university considered expulsion for the student who cheated."
Pronounce it as /ɪkˈspʌl.ʃən/ in US and UK. The primary stress is on the second syllable: ex-PUL-sion. Start with a quick /ɪk/ onset, then a clear /ˈspʌl/ syllable where /ʌ/ sounds like the 'uh' in 'cup', followed by /-ʃən/ as in 'shun'. Keep the /sp/ cluster together and avoid adding an extra vowel between /sp/ and /l/. In US, you’ll often hear a slightly reduced initial /ɪk/; in careful speech, fully enunciate /ɪk/ for precision.
Common errors: misplacing the stress (e.g., ex-PUL-sion with the emphasis on the first syllable), or turning /sp/ into a /s/ + /p/ separation, producing ex-s-pulsion. Another error is mispronouncing the /ʌ/ as a schwa /ə/ in fast speech, giving ex-PAL-sion. Correction: keep the second syllable stressed, compress the /sp/ cluster, and use a clear /ʌ/ (as in ‘cup’) before the /l/; ensure the final /ʃən/ is a single syllable “shun” rather than two.”
US: /ɪkˈspʌl.ʃən/ with a rhotic r-adjacent falloff not present in the word; UK: /ˌɛkˈspʌl.ʃən/ may have less vowel reduction in the first syllable and a slightly stronger /ə/ before n in some dialects; AU: /ɪkˈspʌlʃən/ sometimes shows reduced vowel quality and faster rhythm, with less /ə/ in the final syllable. Across accents, the key is stress on the second syllable; rhoticity does not affect this word’s pronunciation as there is no r in post-vocalic position, but vowel quality and timing shift subtly.
Two main challenges: 1) the /sp/ cluster after the stressed syllable requires precise timing, as you must avoid vowel insertion between /s/ and /p/ and keep /sp/ together. 2) The final /ʃən/ cluster can compress in rapid speech; you should deliver a single ‘shun’ syllable without an extra vowel. Focus on maintaining the /ɪk/ onset and accurate /ʌ/ in /ˈspʌl/. Slow, deliberate practice helps you thread the consonant cluster smoothly.
A unique point: the second syllable starts with a strong voiceless plosive /p/, not a heavy /b/ or /t/. You should transition from /k/ or /ɪk/ into /sp/ with solid propulsion, then glide into /ʌl/ before the /ʃən/. Practicing a short pause between /sp/ and /ʌ/ can help maintain clarity in careful speech and avoid merging the syllables.
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Expulsion derives from the Latin expulsio, from expellere, meaning to drive out or push away. Expellere combines ex- (out) with pellere (to push, drive). The term entered English via Old French expulsion in the late Middle Ages, retaining legal and physical implications of exclusion or removal. The noun form expulsion appears in the 14th–15th centuries in legal and ecclesiastical records, initially tied to banishment from a community or institution. Over time, its semantic range broadened to include the expulsion of air, gas, or liquids in medical and scientific discourse, as well as organizational expulsions. The word often appears in contexts of disciplinary measures, immigration policy, and mechanical processes that eject material. The pronunciation shifted through regular English evolution, with stress typically on the second syllable: ex-PUL-sion. The first known uses emphasize formal withdrawal or banishment, and by the modern era, expulsion is common across law, education, healthcare, and physics, reflecting a consistent core idea of outward forcing or removal.
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Words that rhyme with "expulsion"
-ion sounds
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