3 syllables: In, va, sion. Stress on va.
in-VAY-zhuhn
/ˌɪˈnveɪʒən/
Invasion is pronounced in-VAY-zhuhn (/ˌɪˈnveɪʒən/). It has three syllables (In-va-sion), with the stress on "va". Invasion is the act of entering another country or domain by force or without permission. It also can describe a sudden, unwelcome incursion into someone’s space or privacy. As a noun, it often implies aggression, extent, and disruption, and is used in political, military, or metaphorical contexts.
nounInvasion is the act of entering another country or domain by force or without permission. It also can describe a sudden, unwelcome incursion into someone’s space or privacy. As a noun, it often implies aggression, extent, and disruption, and is used in political, military, or metaphorical contexts.
"The invasion began at dawn, with tanks moving across the border."
"Historians debated the impact of the 1940 invasion on the region’s boundaries."
"The media labeled the company's sudden expansion as an invasion of the market."
Say in-VEI-zhən with stress on the second syllable. IPA: ɪnˈveɪʒən. Start with a short initial /ɪ/, then a clear /ˈveɪ/ as in ‘bait,’ and finish with /ʒən/ like the s in 'measure' plus a schwa. Audio reference: listen to native speakers in reputable dictionaries or Pronounce video tutorials; try repeating with weight on the second syllable to keep the rhythm even.
Common errors: misplacing stress (peaking on the first syllable ɪnˈveɪʒən vs. inˈva-), mispronouncing the /ʒ/ as /z/ or /ʃ/ (sounding like ‘in-VEY-zhun’). Correct by focusing on the /ʒ/ sound, which is voiced postalveolar fricative, and keeping /ˈveɪ/ as a single syllable with a long a. Also watch final /ən/ to avoid a full /ən/ or an /ɪən/ blend; aim for a light, unstressed schwa followed by a soft /n/.
US: /ɪnˈveɪʒən/, rhotic preference doesn’t affect the /r/ (absent here). UK: similar, but vowel length and intonation can be crisper, with a slightly tighter /v/ and a more precise /ʒ/. AU: often vowel reduction in unstressed syllables; /ɪn/ may be slightly more centralized, but the /ˈveɪ/ remains prominent. Overall, main differences lie in vowel quality and speed of speech, not a change in the core phonemes.
Two main challenges: the /ʒ/ sound, which is not common in many languages, requires a mid-voiced fricative with the tongue bunched toward the palate; and the stress on the second syllable can be tricky if you’re used to trochaic patterns. Additionally, the cluster /veɪ/ demands a clear, long vowel. Practice shaping the tongue to approximate /ʒ/ and keep the /veɪ/ strong while maintaining a light final /ən/.
Is the final -tion in 'Invasion' pronounced as /ʃən/ or /zən/? It’s commonly /ʃən/ in most varieties of English when /t/ is not released, so the sequence is /-ʒən/ with a soft, nearly silent /t/ impact. The /ti/ spelling doesn’t produce a separate /t/ sound here; instead, the combination becomes a palato-alveolar fricative /ʒ/ plus schwa /ən/. So pronounce as /ɪnˈveɪʒən/ with /ʒ/.
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Invasion comes from the Latin invasio(n-), from invas- ‘an infesting, attack,’ from invadere ‘to assault, enter by force’. The root invad- is from in- ‘into’ plus vad- ‘go.’ In Late Latin, invasio referred to assault or invasion, particularly of territory. The word entered Old French as invasion before spreading to English in the 14th century, maintaining its military sense (entering by force, breaking through defenses). Over time, its usage broadened to metaphorical incursions—e.g., cultural, technological, or social invasions—though the military sense remains prominent. The core idea centers on unlawful, forceful entry or an overwhelming presence intruding into space or sovereignty. First known uses in English appear in the 14th–15th centuries in chronicling warfare and territorial seizures, with later centuries expanding to non-literal intrusions into privacy, markets, and domains beyond physical borders.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Invasion" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Invasion"
-ion sounds
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