4 syllables: in, for, ma, tion. Stress on ma.
in-fur-MAY-shuhn
/ˌɪnfɚˈmeɪʃən/
information is pronounced in-fur-MAY-shuhn (/ˌɪnfɚˈmeɪʃən/). It has four syllables (in-for-ma-tion), with the stress on "ma". Information is the collection of data, facts, or details on a particular subject, often organized for communication or analysis. It is commonly used in everyday speech and professional contexts to refer to knowledge conveyed, sources, or instructions. In linguistics, “information” also denotes content communicated by utterances, separate from form or function.
nounInformation is the collection of data, facts, or details on a particular subject, often organized for communication or analysis. It is commonly used in everyday speech and professional contexts to refer to knowledge conveyed, sources, or instructions. In linguistics, “information” also denotes content communicated by utterances, separate from form or function.
- You commonly overemphasize the initial syllable, saying in-FUR-may-shn instead of in-for-MAY-tion. Correct by aligning the primary stress to the third syllable and reducing the first two vowels to a quick, light onset. - The final -tion often becomes a hard -shun (/ʃən/) or completely drops the n. Practice maintaining a light final syllabic consonant /n̩/ or /ʃn̩/ after /ʃ/. - Vowel reduction in fast speech: the /ɪ/ in the first syllable and /ə/ in the second can compress. Use a short, controlled /ɪ/ and a clear /ə/ before the /meɪ/ peak. - Don’t merge the fourth syllable with the third: keep in-for-MEɪ-tion rhythm so that the -meɪ- stands out as the stressed nucleus. - Use minimal pairs and shadowing to keep the final /n̩/ distinct from an -ən/ ending in some dialects.
How to Pronounce Information
"- The information you provided was crucial for our decision."
"- I need more information about the event before I commit."
"- The report contains information from multiple sources."
Stress falls on the third syllable: in-for-MAY-tion. IPA: US ˌɪn.fɚˈmeɪ.ʃn̩; UK ˌɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən; AU ˌɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən. In careful speech, pronounce the final syllable clearly as -tion with a light, unstressed schwa or a syllabic n: ˈʃən or n̩.
Mistakes include stressing the first or second syllable (in-FOIR-may-shn) and truncating the final -tion to -tion as /tən/ when unstressed. Correct by enforcing the tertiary stress pattern in-for-MAY-tion and ending with a clear /ʃn̩/ or /ʃən/ depending on dialect. Practice with minimal pairs: in-fore- vs in-for- vs in-for-MAY-tion.
US tends to rhotically reduce unstressed vowels to a schwa and may have a slightly flap-like subtlety in rapid speech: /ˌɪn.fɚˈmeɪ.ʃn̩/. UK often preserves non-rhotic schwa in the first syllable and uses /ˌɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən/. Australian keeps a similar pattern to UK with clear final -tion and may have a wider vowel in the first syllable: /ˌɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən/.
Two main challenges: the third-syllable stress and the final syllabic -tion. The sequence /ˌɪn.fɚˈmeɪ.ʃn̩/ requires maintaining a distinct mid syllable and a reduced, often syllabic consonant blend at the end. Learners often misplace stress, or insert extra consonants in the final cluster, making it sound like in-for-MAY-shn or in-for-MEE-zhun.
A precise movement cue: keep the jaw relatively relaxed for the first two syllables, then open for the stressed -meɪ- syllable with a tighter, higher tongue position to achieve the clear /eɪ/ diphthong. The ending often reduces to /ʃn̩/ with minimal audible vowel, especially in fluent speech, so practice ending with a light, almost syllabic 'n' after /ʃ/.
🗣️ Voice search tip: These questions are optimized for voice search. Try asking your voice assistant any of these questions about "information"!
- US: emphasize rhoticity in the second syllable if you’re using a stronger /ɚ/; keep /ɪ/ slightly lax and /f/ as a light, unaspirated fricative. The final /n̩/ can be syllabic in rapid speech, so target a clearly under-nasalized end. - UK: non-rhotic influence; the second vowel is often a schwa or slightly reduced; final /ən/ is more fully articulated as /ən/ though in fast speech can approach /n̩/. - AU: similar to UK with a bit more open central vowel in the first syllable and a robust final syllabic /n̩/. Maintain the /eɪ/ in the stressed syllable and avoid flattening it to /e/. - Tips: use IPA as a reference: US ˌɪn.fɚˈmeɪ.ʃn̩; UK ˌɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən; AU ˌɪn.fəˈmeɪ.ʃən. Focus on keeping the stressed diphthong crisp and the final syllabic consonant distinct.
The word information traces to Middle English information and Old French information, derived from Latin informatio, informare meaning to shape, form, or teach. The Latin root is informare (to form or shape a mind), from in- (in, into) + forma (form). In English, information emerged in the 15th century to denote the act of informing or the materials used to inform someone. Over time, its sense broadened from the act of informing to the content that informs—data, facts, or details that convey meaning. The term gained heavy adoption in academic, scientific, and bureaucratic discourse, aligning with the rise of information theory and data-driven communication in the 20th century. First known use in English appears in legal or scholarly Latinized forms; by the modern era, information has become a ubiquitous term across industries, education, media, and technology, maintaining a core sense of content that provides knowledge or instruction while allowing nuanced collocations like “public information,” “information technology,” and “information source.”
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "information" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "information" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "information" and show contrast in usage.
📚 Vocabulary tip: Learning synonyms and antonyms helps you understand nuanced differences in meaning and improves your word choice in speaking and writing.
Words that rhyme with "information"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
🎵 Rhyme tip: Practicing with rhyming words helps you master similar sound patterns and improves your overall pronunciation accuracy.
