3 syllables: in, scrip, tion. Stress on scrip.
in-SKRIP-shuhn
/ˌɪnsˈkɹɪpʃən/
inscription is pronounced in-SKRIP-shuhn (/ˌɪnsˈkɹɪpʃən/). It has three syllables (in-scrip-tion), with the stress on "scrip". Inscription refers to the act of writing or engraving words, characters, or symbols on a surface, often as a lasting mark. It can also describe the text itself that has been inscribed. The term carries a formal, historical connotation and is frequently used in archaeology, epigraphy, and art contexts to denote the recorded message or dedication on monuments, plaques, or manuscripts.
Inscription refers to the act of writing or engraving words, characters, or symbols on a surface, often as a lasting mark. It can also describe the text itself that has been inscribed. The term carries a formal, historical connotation and is frequently used in archaeology, epigraphy, and art contexts to denote the recorded message or dedication on monuments, plaques, or manuscripts.
- You may slip into saying in-SCRIPT-ion with misplaced stress; keep stress on the second syllable: in-SCRIP-tion. - The /skr/ cluster can be tricky; avoid a too-voiceless /sk/ blend or a weak /r/; ensure you produce a clear /skr/ sequence before the /ɪ/. - Ending /ən/ should be light; don’t add a hard /ɪən/ or /ən/. Practice by isolating the middle cluster and ending separately before blending. Remember to maintain a calm mouth posture with a slight forward tongue toward the alveolar ridge for /n/.
"The inscription on the ancient tablet commemorates a victory."
"Scholars studied the inscription to learn more about the society that produced it."
"The museum displayed an inscription in Latin, carved into marble."
Phonetically, it is /ɪnˈskrɪp.ʃən/ in US, UK, and AU. Break it into in-SCRIP-tion, with primary stress on the second syllable: in- SCRIP -tion. Start with a relaxed short i, move to a clear /skr/ cluster, then the -ʃən ending. For guidance, think: in + SCRIPT + ion, but with a slight /r/ within the second syllable. Listening to native speech will help you hear the subtle /ɪ/ in the first syllable and the /ɪ/ in the second syllable’s stressed vowel.
Two common errors: misplacing the stress, saying in-SCRIP-tion with even stress or mis-stressing the first syllable; and mispronouncing the -tion ending as /-tʃən/ instead of /-ʃən/. Correction: keep primary stress on the second syllable: in-SCRIP-tion, and end with a clean /ən/ after the /ʃ/; avoid adding a 't' sound before the schwa. Practice the /skr/ cluster by starting with /s-kr/ blending into /ɪ/ then /p/ and /ʃən/.
Across accents, the main differences are vowel quality and rhoticity. US and AU generally maintain a non-rhotic feel with clear /ɪ/ and /ə/ in -tion, and a light /r/ influence is minimal. UK speakers are typically non-rhotic with a similar /ɪ/ in two syllables; some UK varieties may realize the middle vowel slightly shorter. In Australian speech, vowel length is balanced with a broader mouth opening, but the rhythm keeps the stress on -CRIP-, with similar /ɪ/ as in US. All share /ɪnˈskrɪp.ʃən/ overall.
The difficulty hinges on the consonant cluster /skr/ in the stressed syllable and the final /-ʃən/ sequence, which can blur in rapid speech. The combination of /skr/ and the voiceless /ʃ/ followed by a nasal /ən/ demands precise tongue positioning: a tight /s/ to /skr/ transition with a mid-back tongue posture for /ʃ/. Students also tend to over-syllabify or under-pronounce the final schwa. Clear practice of the middle /skrɪp/ and the final /ʃən/ helps stabilize the rhythm.
A distinctive feature is the secondary vowel reduction pattern in fast speech, where the first syllable may be reduced slightly in colloquial speech, but the main stress remains on the second syllable: in-SCRIP-tion. Paying attention to the -cription sequence, keep /skrɪp/ crisp while the following /ən/ remains light. This word also contains a rare -cription family sound balance, where the /r/ is not fully rhotic in some dialects, resulting in a more compact middle sound.
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- US: rhoticity is less prominent; slight r-colorization occurs in connected speech; still, final /ən/ remains. - UK: non-rhotic; /r/ is not pronounced unless followed by a vowel; middle /skrɪp/ remains distinct. - AU: similar to US, but with broader vowel quality; keep vowels clear and avoid over-shortening the /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable. General IPA approach: /ɪnˈskrɪp.ʃən/. - Vowel quality: keep /ɪ/ as lax high front in all syllables. - Consonants: /skr/ cluster requires precise tongue placement—tip behind the upper teeth, blade slightly raised. - Use a slight lip rounding for /ɪ/ in the stressed syllable to aid projection.
Inscription comes from Latin inscriptio, from in- ‘in, on’ + scribere ‘to write’. The form inscriptio existed in Late Latin, used to denote something written or engraved on a surface. In English, early uses appear in the 15th century, often in scholastic or epigraphic contexts, referring to inscriptions on monuments or manuscripts. The root scribere evolves into many related terms—scribe, script, manuscript, subscribe—sharing the core idea of writing, recording, or marking. The pronunciation settled with the -cription suffix, aligning with words like transcription and description. The semantic arc moves from “written markings on surfaces” to “the text itself as recorded content,” mirroring changes in material culture from stone to parchment to metal surfaces. As archeology and epigraphy developed as disciplines, inscription gained specialized usage in cataloging inscribed artifacts, while in everyday language it describes any marked or engraved text, whether on a plaque, coin, or building.”,
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Words that rhyme with "inscription"
-ion sounds
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