3 syllables: in, ject, ion. Stress on ject.
/ˌɪˈndʒɛkʃən/
Say it backA medical or technical act of introducing a substance into the body or a system, typically via a needle. In broader use, it can refer to the act of forcing something into a machine, system, or process. The noun stems from the verb inject, while the -ion suffix marks a noun form of action or result.
"The doctor gave him an injection in the hospital."
"Her alarm clock was an injection of motivation to start the morning workout."
"The software update was an injection of new features into the program."
Pronounce as in-ˈdʒek-shən. The primary stress falls on the second syllable: /ɪnˈdʒek.ʃən/. Start with a short, unstressed 'in' /ɪn/, then a strong /ˈdʒek/ with the /dʒ/ as a voiced palato-alveolar affricate, and end with a schwa-ish /ʃən/ (the final syllable often reduced to /ʃn̩ or /ən/ in rapid speech). A quick audio reference is available in major dictionaries or resources like Pronounce or Forvo.
Common errors: (1) Doubling or misplacing stress on the first syllable i.e., in-ˈjection; (2) pronouncing /dʒ/ as /j/ or /tʃ/ (e.g., in-jek-shən instead of in-ˈdʒek-); (3) overpronouncing the final /ən/ as /ənk/ or /ɪn/ instead of a light /ən/. Correct by aligning to /ɪnˈdʒek.ʃən/, practicing the /dʒ/ blend clearly, and reducing the final vowel to a soft schwa with a trailing nasal.
US and UK share /ɪnˈdʒek.ʃən/, with slight length differences: US tends toward a sharper /ˈdʒe/ and a crisp /ʃən/; UK often features a marginally longer vowel in the first syllable and a slightly lighter /t/ influence in rapid speech; AU tends to be less rhotic, with vowel quality adjustments around /ɪ/ and a more relaxed /ən/ at the end. The key is the same syllable structure, but rhythm and vowel duration shift subtly by region.
Two main challenges: the /dʒ/ sound follows a short /ɪ/ and combines with a consonant cluster that ends in /kʃ/ before /ən/, which can stumble non-native speakers. The mid- and high-front tongue position for /dʒ/ requires precise voicing and airflow; the /ə/ (schwa) in the third syllable must be reduced rather than fully pronounced, and the final /ən/ can drift toward /n/ if you’re tense. Practice decisive 'dʒ' release and final light schwa.
Note the strong bilabial onset transition from /n/ to /dʒ/—you start with a light /ɪ/ then immediately release a clear /n/ before initiating /dʒ/. Keeping the mouth slightly open for /e/ in the 'jek' portion helps ensure the correct vowel quality and avoids turning it into /ɪnˈdʒek.tʃən/. Focus on the /ˈdʒ/ blend as a single, crisp move.
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Injection comes from the Latin verb ingerere meaning to thrust or to put into. The -tion suffix marks a noun of action. The root inger- surfaces in English through Middle French and Latin pathways: in- (into) + gerere (to bear, to carry, to bring). The word appeared in English in medical contexts by the late 16th to early 17th century, reflecting the practice of forcing substances into the body via a syringe. Early uses describe procedures where fluids were introduced into tissue or veins; later, in pharmacology, injection became a standard method for delivering medicines, vaccines, and contrast agents. Over centuries, the term stabilized into a general noun for the act or instance of injecting. In modern usage, it also appears metaphorically in computing and technology to denote introducing data or code forcefully into a system, retaining the core sense of introduction and insertion.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "injection" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "injection" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "injection"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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