3 syllables: in, fec, tion. Stress on fec.
/ˌɪˈnfɛkʃən/
Say it backInfection refers to the process or result of invading and multiplying pathogens (like bacteria, viruses, or fungi) within a host, leading to disease. It can describe the act of becoming infected or the condition itself. In medical use, it often implies a harmful, abnormal presence of microorganisms and the body's response to them.
"Hospitals must monitor for signs of infection after surgery."
"The patient developed a rapid fever, a clear sign of infection."
"Good hygiene helps prevent infection from spreading."
Pronounce as /ɪnˈfɛk.ʃən/ in US and UK. The syllable division is in-fec-tion with the primary stress on the second syllable: in-FECK-tion. Start with an short i sound, move into a clear /f/ and /ɛ/ in the stressed syllable, then /k/ followed by the /ʃ/ sound before a schwa /ən/ at the end. Mouth positions: lips neutral for /ɪ/, bottom lip lightly raised for /f/, mid-open jaw for /ɛ/, tongue blade to palate for /ʃ/. Audio reference: tap or read aloud while listening to native models on Pronounce or Forvo.
Common errors include: 1) Prolonging the final syllable or misplacing the /ʃ/ sounding like /tʃ/ (infection vs in-feck-shun). 2) Reducing the /ɪ/ in the first syllable too much, making it sound like /ɪnˈfekən/. 3) Slurring the /k/ and /ʃ/ into a single sound. Correction: clearly articulate /k/ before the /ʃ/; ensure a brief pause or release between /k/ and /ʃ/ to avoid a /fk ʃ/ cluster.
US: /ɪnˈfɛk.ʃən/ with flapped or unreleased t-like quality, rhotic accent overall. UK: /ɪnˈfek.ʃən/ with non-rhoticity, strong /k/ and /ʃ/ separation and likely clearer vowel in second syllable. AU: /ɪnˈfɛk.ʃən/ similar to US but with a broader diphthong in /e/ and more pronounced final /ən/. Core difference lies in rhoticity and vowel quality; British tends to flatter vowels and maintain a crisper /t/ against /n/ in some contexts, while American features rhotic r-coloring and subtle vowel shifts.
It challenges non-native speakers on two fronts: the medial consonant cluster /k-ʃ/ requires precise articulator movement to avoid blending into /kʃ/ or /tʃ/. The sequence /fɛk.ʃən/ demands a quick but distinct transition from /k/ to /ʃ/ and maintaining a neutral schwa /ən/ at the end. Additionally, the non-stressful third syllable can be reduced in casual speech, so keeping the stress on the second syllable helps clarity.
A distinctive feature is the /ˈf/ followed by a sharp /ɛ/ vowel and a crisp /k/ before the /ʃ/; the /ʃ/ immediately before the final /ən/ forms a quick, almost palatal release. This sequence (feK-shən) is a key cue for native listeners to latch onto the stress and syllable boundary; misplacing /ʃ/ or blurring /k/ can make the word sound like 'in-fe-(t)shun'.
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The word infection comes from the Latin infectio, from the verb in- ‘into’ + farcire, ‘to grease, to stuff’ in early Latin, implying spoiled or contaminated. The root infect- derives from Latin in- ‘into’ and fact- ‘made; done’, conveying the idea of something made within, or a process of introduction of a pathogen. Early meanings in English focused on “poisoning” or “souring” a system (as in infection of a body or seed), evolving through Middle English as scientific vocabulary expanded in medicine. By the 17th century, infection referred more specifically to the invasion and multiplication of pathogenic organisms in the body. Over time, it broadened to describe infectious diseases and conditions generated by microbes, while still retaining the core sense of an inside intrusion by foreign agents. Modern usage differentiates between the general concept of infection and specific infectious diseases, often distinguishing bacterial from viral etiologies and emphasizing host response and containment strategies.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "infection" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "infection"
-ion sounds
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