4 syllables: In, ti, ma, tion. Stress on ma.
in-tuh-MAY-shuhn
/ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃən/
Intimation is pronounced in-tuh-MAY-shuhn (/ˌɪntəˈmeɪʃən/). It has four syllables (In-ti-ma-tion), with the stress on "ma". Intimation is a noun meaning a subtle or indirect hint or suggestion, often preceding a more explicit communication. It refers to the act of giving a slight warning or indication of something to come, without stating it outright. The term carries a formal, often understated tone and is commonly used in written or analytical contexts.
nounIntimation is a noun meaning a subtle or indirect hint or suggestion, often preceding a more explicit communication. It refers to the act of giving a slight warning or indication of something to come, without stating it outright. The term carries a formal, often understated tone and is commonly used in written or analytical contexts.
- You may misplace the stress on the first or second syllable instead of the third. Ensure you give the 'MA' syllable its prominence. - The middle vowel sequence can blur: avoid turning /tɪ/ into a quick /tɪ/ that bleeds into /ˈmeɪ/. - The /ʃən/ ending can become /ʃən/ or /tʃən/; keep the /ʃ/ sound clear and place the nasal /ən/ at the end. - In rapid speech, you may drop the /n/ before /t/ (n-t). Practice the coda transition to preserve the clean /n/ and /t/ release. - Do not substitute /meɪ/ with /miː/; keep the diphthong /eɪ/ audible.
How to Pronounce Intimation
"The manager’s note contained an intimation that layoffs might be imminent."
"Her email carried an intimation of upcoming changes, though nothing was explicitly stated."
"There was a delicate intimation in his voice, suggesting he knew more than he said."
Intimation is pronounced /ˌɪn.tɪˈmeɪ.ʃən/ in US usage and /ˌɪn.tɪˈmeɪ.ʃən/ in many UK varieties, with primary stress on the third syllable (meɪ). Break it into in-ti-MA-tion, ensuring the middle syllable carries the peak vowel. Start with a short, clipped /ɪ/ in the first syllable, a short /tɪ/ in the second, then a clear /ˈmeɪ/ vowel in the stressed syllable, followed by /ʃən/. Think “in-tee-MAY-shun,” with final unstressed “shən.” Audio reference: listen for the stressed /meɪ/ and the smooth /ʃən/ ending.
Common errors include misplacing the primary stress (putting it on the first or second syllable) and compressing the /meɪ/ into a quick /me/ or /mɛm/ sound. Another frequent mistake is mispronouncing the /ʃən/ ending as /tʃən/ or dropping the /ʃ/ entirely. To correct: practice the sequence in- ti- MA- tion with steady, tour-paced syllables; emphasize the long /eɪ/ in /ˈmeɪ/ and keep the /ʃ/ clear before the final /ən/.
In US English, the stress remains on the third syllable with a clear /ˈmeɪ/ in ‘MA,’ and the final /ʃən/ is unstressed. UK varieties generally mirror this but may feature a slightly shorter /ɪ/ in the first syllable and a crisper /t/ release before /ɪˈmeɪ/. Australian English tends to be non-rhotic and may reduce the final /ən/ a touch, while preserving /ˈmeɪ/ and a fuller /t/ before it. Overall, core vowels stay similar; the main differences are vowel length and the rhotacization and smoothing of final consonants in some speakers.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllable rhythm and the accurate placement of primary stress on the third syllable, plus sustaining clear /ˈmeɪ/ amid a light /ən/ ending. The sequence /n.tɪ/ can tempt you to blend into a single syllable. Also, the /ʃ/ before the final syllable can be softened by casual speech, risking an indistinct ending. Focus on segmenting: in- /n/ with light t, then MA with /eɪ/, then /ʃən/ clearly.
A notable feature is the subtle linking of the /n/ and /t/ between syllables (in- ti-), where the /t/ is typically released but not forcefully. You’ll often hear a light transition from /n/ to /t/ that could blur in fast speech. Practice by saying in- (pause lightly) ti- with a clean /t/ release before the stressed /ˈmeɪ/ syllable to keep the rhythm crisp.
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- US: Stress on MA; pronounce /ˌɪn.tɪˈmeɪ.ʃən/ with a clear, rounded /eɪ/; rhotics don’t affect final /ən/ but be mindful of slight r-color in adjacent vowels. - UK: Similar pattern; keep the final /ən/ light, and allow a marginally crisper /t/ release before /ɪˈmeɪ/. - AU: Non-rhotic; final vowel length may be shorter; emphasize the diphthong /eɪ/ and precise /ʃ/ before /ən/. - General tip: anchor the onset with a crisp /ɪ/ in first syllable, then progressive /tɪ/ quickly, before the main /ˈmeɪ/ stress, and finish with /ʃən/. - IPA reminders: US /ˌɪn.tɪˈmeɪ.ʃən/; UK /ˌɪn.tɪˈmeɪ.ʃən/; AU /ˌɪn.tɪˈmeɪ.ʃən/.
Intimation derives from the Latin verb intimare, meaning 'to announce in a private way' or 'to make known,' which itself comes from in- 'in' + amittere 'to send, let go' (later associated with intimate, to imply confidential). The form passed into Old French as intimatier and then into Middle English as intimaten or intimaten. Over time, the word narrowed in usage to denote a subtle conveyance of information, hint, or indirect announcement rather than a direct statement. The shift from a broadly private notification to a more literary or formal marker of suggestion occurred in the 16th–18th centuries as English absorbed legal and rhetorical vocabulary. First known uses in print appear in legal and polite correspondence where a non-explicit cue or warning was required, then expanding to general literary usage. The semantic trajectory emphasizes subtlety and non-assertive communication, contrasting with direct notification or instruction.
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Words that rhyme with "Intimation"
-ion sounds
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