grat-uh-fuh-KAY-shuhn
/ˌɡɹætəfəˈkeɪʃən/
gratification is pronounced grat-uh-fuh-KAY-shuhn (/ˌɡɹætəfəˈkeɪʃən/). Gratification refers to a sense of satisfaction or pleasure derived from fulfilling a desire or need. It often implies immediate or enduring reward, and can denote both emotional and psychological fulfillment. The term is commonly used in contexts ranging from personal achievement to consumer behavior and moral or ethical satisfaction.
Gratification refers to a sense of satisfaction or pleasure derived from fulfilling a desire or need. It often implies immediate or enduring reward, and can denote both emotional and psychological fulfillment. The term is commonly used in contexts ranging from personal achievement to consumer behavior and moral or ethical satisfaction.
"She felt a deep gratification after completing the project ahead of schedule."
"The charity’s donations brought him gratification beyond mere monetary gain."
"He sought gratification in small daily successes rather than large, dramatic gestures."
You pronounce it as /ˌɡræ.tɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/. The primary stress falls on the third syllable: gra-ti-fi-CA-tion. Start with /ɡr/ as in 'grass,' then /æ/ (like 'cat'), then /tɪ/ (short, quick), follow with /fɪ/ (like 'fit'), the stressed /ˈkeɪ/ (rhymes with ‘play’), and end with /ʃən/ (as in 'ation' with a soft 'sh' plus a light 'ən'). Tip: keep the /t/ crisp and avoid a heavy release before /ɪ/. Audio reference: you can hear it in pronunciation dictionaries or platforms like Forvo.
Two common errors are misplacing the stress and mispronouncing the mid vowels. People often shift the stress to the first or second syllable (gra-ti-fi-ca-tion) instead of the correct third-syllable stress (gra-ti-fi-CA-tion). Another frequent error is elongating the /æ/ or turning /keɪ/ into /keɪ.ən/; keep /keɪ/ as a single stressed unit before the final /ʃən/. Practice with minimal pairs to lock the rhythm: gra-ti-fi-CA-tion vs. gra-ti-CA-tion.
In US, UK, and AU you'll see the same primary stress on the antepenultimate? Actually on the third syllable from the end: gra-ti-fi-CA-tion. Vowel quality varies: US and AU may have a slightly farther back /æ/ and a clearer /ɪ/ before /ˈkeɪ/. The /t/ can be a light tap in rapid speech. Rhoticity is generally not a factor here; all three accents maintain the /ɹ/ absence. Differences are subtle: UK may be slightly crisper with /ɡ/ and /t/ release, while US more vowel reduction in unstressed syllables. You’ll still hear /ˌɡræ.tɪ.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/.
The difficulty lies in cluster timing and syllable rhythm: three unstressed syllables before the stressed one require precise pacing. The /t/ before /ɪ/ should be a light, crisp release, not a heavy plosive. The /ɪ/ in the second syllable is short; avoid drawing it out. The sequence /fɪˈkeɪ/ requires maintaining a short /ɪ/ before the diphthong /eɪ/. Finally, ensure the final /ʃən/ blends smoothly without a hard 'n' sound. IPA guidance helps lock the rhythm and place of stress.
A key word-specific feature is the combination of stress placement and the /t/ followed by /ɪ/ in rapid speech. The /t/ often lands in a light, unreleased or softly released position when connected to /ɪ/ in fluent speech, which can make the syllable boundary harder to detect. The /keɪ/ nucleus also requires tight articulation to avoid blending into the following /ʃən/. Paying attention to the transition between /fi/ and /keɪ/ helps avoid common mispronunciations.
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Gratification comes from the late Middle English gratification, from Latin gratificationem (nominative gratificatio), meaning ‘a pleasing or satisfying,’ formed from gratificare ‘to please, gratify’ + -tion. Gratus ‘pleasing’ (source of grateful) contributes the root grat- meaning ‘pleasing, pleasing thing.’ The Latin gratificatio evolved through Old French gratification to English usage by the 14th century. Initially tied to acts of please giving or appeasing, by the Renaissance it broadened to denote the state or experience of receiving satisfaction. The suffix -ation marks a noun of action or condition. Over time, in modern English, gratification frequently collocates with achievement, rewards, and emotional states, indicating both immediate sensory pleasure and broader subjective fulfillment.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "gratification" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "gratification" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "gratification"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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