4 syllables: Il, lus, tra, tion. Stress on tra.
il-uh-STRAY-shuhn
/ˌɪləsˈtɹeɪʃən/
Illustration is pronounced il-uh-STRAY-shuhn (/ˌɪləsˈtɹeɪʃən/). It has four syllables (Il-lus-tra-tion), with the stress on "tra". Illustration is a noun meaning a visual representation, such as a drawing or diagram, used to explain or decorate a text. It can also refer to the act of illustrating or the process of providing such visuals. In professional contexts it often accompanies written content to clarify meaning or enhance comprehension, from books to presentations.
nounIllustration is a noun meaning a visual representation, such as a drawing or diagram, used to explain or decorate a text. It can also refer to the act of illustrating or the process of providing such visuals. In professional contexts it often accompanies written content to clarify meaning or enhance comprehension, from books to presentations.
How to Pronounce Illustration
"The textbook features an illustration that clearly explains the solar eclipse."
"It’s important to cite an illustration if it’s adapted from another source."
"The artist added a colorful illustration to brighten the project report."
Pronounce as /ˌɪl.əˈstreɪ.ʃən/. The primary stress is on the third syllable “streɪ,” with a secondary stress on the first syllable’s weak vowel. Start with a light “ih” /ˈɪ/ or /ɪ/, then a schwa in the second syllable, stress the “streɪ” vowel cluster, and end with a soft “shən” /ʃən/. In connected speech, the ending /ən/ may sound like /ən/ or /ən/, and the middle /streɪ/ is crisp. For audio reference, listen to standard American, British, and Australian pronunciations of the word in online dictionaries or pronunciation resources.
Common mistakes include misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable (e.g., /ˈɪl.ə.strəˌʃən/), pronouncing the middle /streɪ/ as /strə/ or /strɪ/, and softening the final /ən/ too much so it sounds like /n/. To correct: keep three clear syllables with a strong, high-front vowel in /ˈstreɪ/ and a crisp /ʃən/ ending. Practice by isolating the /streɪ/ portion and then linking it to /ən/ in slow, deliberate steps.
In US English, the /ˌɪl.əˈstreɪ.ʃən/ pattern remains with rhoticity affecting surrounding vowels lightly. In UK English, you may hear a slightly clipped final /ən/ and a less pronounced /ɪ/ in the first syllable, but stress remains on the third syllable. Australian accents generally maintain the same rhythm, with the final /ə/ a bit more centralized. Across these accents, the main differences are vowel quality and rhythm rather than phoneme changes.
The difficulty lies in maintaining the three-syllable rhythm with the strong secondary stress on the first syllable and the primary stress on the third, while keeping a distinct /streɪ/ cluster. The combination of /ɪ/ vs /ɪl/ at the start, the long /eɪ/ in /streɪ/, and the final /ʃən/ can challenge non-native speakers. Work on separating the syllables, then blend while keeping the /streɪ/ vowel crisp and the /ʃən/ ending soft.
A unique aspect is the three-syllable cadence with a prominent diphthong in the stressed syllable /streɪ/ (the “ate” sound). The combination of /ˌɪl.əˈstreɪ.ʃən/ requires careful vowel sequencing: a light initial /ɪ/ or /ɪl/, a reduced second syllable, and a crisp /eɪ/ vowel in the stressed portion, followed by the affricate-like /t/ onset and soft /ʃən/ ending. This pattern is distinct from many single-word nouns of similar length.
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Illustration comes from the Latin word illustratio, from illustrare meaning to illuminate, enlighten, or make clear. The root illus- derives from is-lus- which relates to light or visibility, echoing the sense of making something clear. In Late Latin, illustratio referred to lighting up or elucidation, and it entered English in the 15th century as a term for visual decoration or explanation. Over time, the meaning narrowed in academic and publishing usage to mean a figure, drawing, or diagram included to clarify text. The word also retained its broader sense of “to illustrate” as to clarify with examples or pictures. The morphological path includes the suffix -ation, forming a noun that denotes the act or result of illustrating. First known uses appear in printed English texts during the early Renaissance period when printed books began to include images alongside text for educational purposes.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Illustration" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Illustration" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Illustration"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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