3 syllables: in, duc, tion. Stress on duc.
in-DUHK-shuhn
/ˌɪˈndʌkʃən/
induction is pronounced in-DUHK-shuhn (/ˌɪˈndʌkʃən/). It has three syllables (in-duc-tion), with the stress on "duc". Induction refers to the act of bringing about or initiating something, such as a process, event, or condition, or the formal ceremony of introducing someone into a group. It also denotes a method of reasoning that infers general conclusions from specific observations. In science and academia, it can mean a formal admission or installation into a role or organization.
Induction refers to the act of bringing about or initiating something, such as a process, event, or condition, or the formal ceremony of introducing someone into a group. It also denotes a method of reasoning that infers general conclusions from specific observations. In science and academia, it can mean a formal admission or installation into a role or organization.
- You may stress the wrong syllable: confuse in-DUK-shən with IN-duk-tion in some fast phrases. Keep the primary stress on the second syllable for accuracy. - Final syllable reduction: in-DUK-shən often reduces the final schwa; ensure you still produce a clear /ən/ instead of a silent ending. - Vowel quality: avoid turning /ʌ/ into a more open /a/ or a lax /ɪ/ in the stressed vowel; aim for a short, rounded /ɑ/ or central /ʌ/ depending on your accent.
"The induction of new members occurred at the annual ceremony."
"The company focused on the induction phase of the project, outlining goals and roles."
"Heat treatment involves induction to create a controlled temperature profile."
Pronounce as in-DUK-shən, with primary stress on the second syllable: /ɪnˈdʌk.ʃən/. Start with a short, lax first syllable, then a clear, stressed 'DUK' with a 'd' followed by a 'ʌ' (as in 'cup'), and end with a weak schwa 'ən'. Think: in-DUK-shən. Audio references: you can compare to Cambridge or Oxford audio pronunciations for confirmation.
Two common errors are stressing the wrong syllable and pronouncing 'du' as 'duh' in an unstressed position or misplacing the 't' sound. Correct by keeping primary stress on the second syllable: in-DUK-shən; ensure the 'duk' contains a clear /dʌk/ rather than a quick 'duh' vowel. Avoid blending the 'k' into a 't' or 'f' sound; you want a crisp /ʌ/ vowel and a distinct /k/ before the final schwa.
In US, UK, and AU, the vowel and rhoticity do not drastically change the core /ɪnˈdʌk.ʃən/, but rhotic speakers may have a slightly more pronounced /ɹ/ in connected speech, and Australian speech may feature a slightly shorter /ʌ/ and faster schwa reduction depending on context. The primary stress remains on the second syllable. Listen for subtle vowel quality shifts: American /ɪnˈdʌk.ʃən/ vs British /ɪnˈdʌk.ʃən/ with quick, clipped first syllable and a clear /ʌ/.
The challenge lies in maintaining unstressed vowel quality and producing a crisp /ʌ/ in the stressed syllable while keeping the following /ʃ/ and final /ən/ smooth in sequence. The mid-central /ən/ at the end can slip into a clearer /ən/ or even merge in rapid speech. Practice by segmenting: /ɪn/ + /ˈdʌk/ + /ʃən/ and then blend with controlled timing to avoid an elongated 'in' or swallowed 'ʃ'.
A unique feature is the transition from a stressed plosive /k/ to a following alveolar /ʃ/ before the final schwa; this /kʃ/ cluster requires the tongue to release the /k/ fully and immediately bring the tongue blade toward the palate for /ʃ/. It helps to practice with a small pause or a quick touch between /k/ and /ʃ/ to maintain clarity while keeping the rhythm natural.
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Induction comes from the Medieval Latin inductio, from Latin inducere meaning to lead in, entreat, or bring in. The root indu- is from in- (in, into) + ducere (to lead). In English, induction appeared by the 14th century with senses tied to leading into a place, office, or state. Over time, its usage broadened to describe the process of formally admitting someone to a position, as well as the logical reasoning method of moving from particular cases to general conclusions. The noun form was established to distinguish this ceremonial or procedural bringing-in from other senses of “to lead.” In the 19th and 20th centuries, technical terms such as electrical induction (as in induction heating and electromagnetic induction) emerged from physics, building on the metaphor of leading into a new state or condition via an enabling mechanism. First known uses include contexts of enrollment or installation, with scientific uses following the expansion of formal terminology in the modern era.
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Words that rhyme with "induction"
-ion sounds
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