4 syllables: In, di, gna, tion. Stress on gna.
in-dig-NAY-shuhn
/ˌɪndɪˈɡneɪʃən/
Indignation is pronounced in-dig-NAY-shuhn (/ˌɪndɪˈɡneɪʃən/). It has four syllables (In-di-gna-tion), with the stress on "gna". Indignation is a strong, often righteous, anger or annoyance provoked by perceived unfairness or injustice. It conveys moral outrage more than mere irritation, typically expressed with a drier, formal tone. The word carries a weighty, dignified aura and is commonly used in literary or analytical contexts to describe or condemn an offending situation.
nounIndignation is a strong, often righteous, anger or annoyance provoked by perceived unfairness or injustice. It conveys moral outrage more than mere irritation, typically expressed with a drier, formal tone. The word carries a weighty, dignified aura and is commonly used in literary or analytical contexts to describe or condemn an offending situation.
- You: Focus on 2-3 phonetic challenges: misplacing stress, mispronouncing the /dʒ/ vs /ɡ/, and final schwa length. - Correction suggestions: mark the syllable boundary clearly: in-DIG-ˈneɪ-tion, enunciate /d/ and /ɡ/ as separate stops before /ˈneɪ/. Practice the /neɪ/ as a tight, bright diphthong, not a flat /ne/. Finally, shorten the final /ən/ to a quick, soft schwa; avoid adding extra consonants.
How to Pronounce Indignation
"The announcement sparked widespread indignation among the community."
"She spoke with indignation, highlighting the inequality in the policy."
"His indignation was evident as he argued the point with the board."
Pronounce as /ˌɪn.dɪɡˈneɪ.ʃən/ in US and UK accents. Primary stress on the third syllable: in-DIG-NA-tion, with a clear 'dig' followed by the 'nay' syllable and a light final 'shun' (ʃən). The initial 'in' is short, the 'd' is a alveolar stop, and the 'gn' yields a soft 'n' sound before 'eigh' (neɪ). In connected speech, the final syllable loses a bit of fullness, so it’s often pronounced as a quick, soft shən. Audio reference: listen to native speakers on Pronounce, Forvo, or YouGlish for the exact timing and intonation.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (often stressing ˈin- instead of ˌɪn-dɪg-), softening the /ɡ/ or misproducing /dʒ/ where it should be /dɡ/ sound cluster, and mispronouncing the final /ən/ as /ər/ or /ən/. To correct: keep the syllable boundary clear: /ˌɪn.dɪɡˈneɪ.ʃən/. Ensure the /ɡ/ is a hard stop after /dɪ/. Practice the /neɪ/ diphthong clearly, not a plain /næ/ or /nei/. Finally, enunciate the final schwa as a light, quick sound rather than a full syllable.
In US and UK, the primary stress remains on the /neɪ/ syllable (ind-i-ˌɡneɪ-tion), but vowel quality differs: US tends to have a more pronounced rhotacism on the 'er' vs. nonrhotic UK accents; AU may shift the /ɪ/ to a slightly higher tension vowel and reduce the final /t/ to a breathy /ən/. Overall, the first syllable is light, the middle 'dig' is short, and the 'nation' part carries the main emphasis. Listen for the length and quality of /neɪ/ across speakers in Pronounce or YouGlish.
It combines a stress pattern across three syllables with a challenging /dʒ/ cluster as part of 'dig' and 'na' leading into the voiceless /ʃən/ ending. The middle consonant cluster /dʒn/ can be awkward for non-native speakers; the /ɡ/ must land as a hard stop before the /neɪ/ vowel. The final schwa /ən/ requires quick reduction in fluent speech. Practice with slow, careful repetition to stabilize the sequence: in-di-ɡ-ˈneɪ-ʃən.
The word preserves a three-syllable rhythm with a relatively strong glide in the second syllable and a prominent 'nay' diphthong in the stressed portion. The unusual combination is /dɪɡˈneɪ/ not /dɪɡˈniː/. The stress pattern guides emotion; maintain a measured pace to avoid flattening the emphasis, which can blur the noun’s formal, moral feel. Pay attention to the 'neɪ' as a clear, pure diphthong rather than a monophthong.
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- US: rhoticity typically prominent /r/ is not present in this word, but your overall vowel shift is toward a bright /eɪ/ in the 'neɪ'. - UK: often non-rhotic; ensure the final /ən/ is reduced with a light schwa and a clipped ending; keep 'neɪ' crisp. - AU: more clipped vowels overall; slight raising of the initial /ɪ/ to a higher position; maintain the /dɪɡ/ cluster with a crisp /d/ and /ɡ/. Use IPA for accuracy: /ˌɪn.dɪˈɡneɪ.ʃən/ (US/UK) and /ˌɪn.dɪˈɡneɪ.ʃən/ (AU).
Indignation comes from the Latin indignatio, from indignus meaning unworthy or unseemly. The root indignus blends in- (not) with dignus (worthy, worth). The noun indignation appeared in English in the 15th to 16th centuries, initially in religious and moral contexts, denoting a moral repugnance toward perceived wrongs. By the 17th century, it broadened to general moral outrage. The sense shift tracks with political and social upheavals when public discourse increasingly framed injustices as matters provoking righteous indignation. The term has remained relatively formal and literary, often used in criticism, journalism, and political commentary to mark a principled, not merely emotional, response to unfairness. Early usages tied indignation to the perception of moral failure rather than personal annoyance, emphasizing the ethical dimension of the emotion. Over time, it also acquired a slightly archaic or high-register flavor in modern prose, particularly in discussions about justice and governance.
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Words that rhyme with "Indignation"
-ion sounds
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