3 syllables: in, tru, sion. Stress on tru.
in-TROO-zhuhn
/ˌɪnˈtɹuʒən/
intrusion is pronounced in-TROO-zhuhn (/ˌɪnˈtɹuʒən/). It has three syllables (in-tru-sion), with the stress on "tru". Intrusion refers to the act of forcing entry or interrupting a space or process, often against resistance. It can describe illegal entry, an unsolicited interruption, or an intrusion into a private domain. The term emphasizes an unwanted incursion that breaches boundaries, whether physical, social, or technological. It carries a neutral to negative connotation depending on context and intent.
Intrusion refers to the act of forcing entry or interrupting a space or process, often against resistance. It can describe illegal entry, an unsolicited interruption, or an intrusion into a private domain. The term emphasizes an unwanted incursion that breaches boundaries, whether physical, social, or technological. It carries a neutral to negative connotation depending on context and intent.
"The security camera captured the intrusion at the front door."
"Her phone detected an intrusion in the network’s defenses."
"The report discusses the intrusion of outsiders into the sacred ceremony."
Pronounce as in-TRU-sion, with secondary stress on the second syllable: /ɪnˈtruː.ʒən/. The middle sound is a long U diphthong in many accents. The final -sion is an /ʒən/ cluster, so the last syllable merges as a soft /ʒən/. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ɪnˈtruː.ʒən/.
Two common errors: (1) Treating the middle vowel as a short /ʌ/ as in 'in-truh-zuhn' instead of the long /uː/; (2) Pronouncing the final -sion as /sən/ or /zən/ instead of /ʒən/. Correct by lengthening the middle vowel to a true /uː/ and producing the final /ʒən/ with the French-like /ʒ/ sound (like 'measure').
In US English, you’ll hear /ɪnˈtruː.ʒən/ with a rhotacized or blurred /ɹ/ in some speakers; UK English tends toward /ɪnˈtruː.ʒən/ with clearer non-rhoticity, and AU English commonly preserves /ɪnˈtruː.ʒən/ with a crisp /ɜː/[ɜː] in some dialects, but most speakers maintain the /uː/ in the second syllable. Across accents, the main variation is the quality of the middle vowel and the final /ʒən/ cluster.
The difficulty lies in the combination: the long /uː/ in the stressed second syllable, the /ʒ/ consonant at the end of the second syllable, and the unstressed final /ən/. The cluster /-ʒən/ is less common in many dialects, so learners may substitute a /ʃ/ or /tʃ/; practice producing a clear /ʒ/ with a relaxed tongue behind the top teeth and release into a light /ən/.
The unique feature is the /ˈtruː/ middle syllable: the U is a long high back vowel, often realized as a rounded long vowel with lip rounding. Focus on elevating the tongue body toward a high back position and keeping the jaw slightly open for a clean /uː/ before the /ʒən/ ending; do not reduce the /uː/ to a shorter /u/ or /uɪ/.
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US: rhoticity is common; make /ɪnˈtruː.ʒən/ with a clear post-vocalic /ɹ/ influence or optional; UK: non-rhotic tendencies may weaken /ɹ/ but keep /ˈtruː/; AU: tends toward clear /ɹ/ or slight /ɹ/; vowel quality in /uː/ remains long and rounded; across all, the /ʒ/ remains a central feature.
intrusion comes from the Latin intrūsio, from intrūdere meaning to thrust or push in, combining in- (into) with trūdere (to thrust). The English form emerged in the 17th century, initially in legal and military contexts to denote forced entry. By the 19th century, it broadened to describe any unwanted interruption or encroachment, including social, psychological, or technical domains. The core sense hinges on boundary violation and unauthorized entry, with a legal/organizational resonance in discussions of security, border control, and data protection. Over time, ‘intrusion’ has accrued metaphorical uses (intrusion of doubt, foreign intrusions into privacy) while maintaining its physical-adjacent origins. First known use citations appear in early modern legal writings and treatises on property rights, with pervasive proliferation in studies of computer security and surveillance in the late 20th century. In contemporary usage, it often carries a negative valence, emphasizing breach of privacy, sovereignty, or operational boundaries.
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Words that rhyme with "intrusion"
-ion sounds
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