4 syllables: in, vo, ca, tion. Stress on ca.
in-vuh-KAY-shuhn
/ˌɪnvəˈkeɪʃən/
invocation is pronounced in-vuh-KAY-shuhn (/ˌɪnvəˈkeɪʃən/). It has four syllables (in-vo-ca-tion), with the stress on "ca". Invocation refers to the act of calling upon a higher power, spirit, or authority, often through a formal prayer, spell, or ceremony. It also denotes a request or appeal for help or inspiration. In rhetoric, invocation can mean an appeal to a principle or person to legitimize an argument. The term carries ceremonial, solemn, or liturgical connotations and is used across religious, literary, and legal contexts.
Invocation refers to the act of calling upon a higher power, spirit, or authority, often through a formal prayer, spell, or ceremony. It also denotes a request or appeal for help or inspiration. In rhetoric, invocation can mean an appeal to a principle or person to legitimize an argument. The term carries ceremonial, solemn, or liturgical connotations and is used across religious, literary, and legal contexts.
- Not maintaining primary stress on the second syllable; as a result, the word sounds flat or misaligned with rhythm. Practice by clapping: in-VO-ca-tion; ensure the beat accent is on 'VO'. - Mispronouncing /voʊ/ as a quick 'voh' without the glide; the diphthong should start with /oʊ/ and glide toward /ʊ/ or /uɪ/ depending on speaker. - Final '-tion' pronounced as 'shun' too forcefully or as 'tion' with a hard 't'. Aim for a soft /ʃən/ end; the /t/ is not fully pronounced in careful speech. - In fast speech, the middle vowel may reduce; keep it clear to preserve syllable length and rhythm. - Speakers often produce a slightly rolled or tapped 'r' if influenced by other words; avoid any extraneous consonants. Corrections: slow down the second syllable, elongate the /oʊ/ (or /əʊ/) diphthong, and soften the final /ʃən/.
"The priest led the service with a solemn invocation asking for divine protection."
"A quiet invocation to the muse opened the poet’s reflective speech."
"The defendant’s lawyer offered an invocation to the court’s authority before presenting evidence."
The word is pronounced in-voh-KAY-shən in US/UK/AU dialects, with primary stress on the second syllable: in-VO-ca-tion. Phonetically: /ɪnˈvoʊ.keɪ.ʃən/ (US), /ɪnˈvəʊ.keɪ.ʃən/ (UK), /ɪnˈvəʊ.keɪ.ʃən/ (AU). Start with a light, quick 'ihn', long 'voh' or 'vō' vowel, a clear 'kay' for the third syllable, and finish with a soft 'shən'.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (placing primary stress on the first or last syllable instead of the second), flattening the /ˈvoʊ/ into a quick 'vo', and pronouncing the final '-tion' as a hard 'tʃən' or 'tion' as 'shun' too strongly. Correct by stressing the second syllable, ensuring a clear /oʊ/ diphthong, and using a soft /ʃən/ at the end. Practice with minimal pairs like in-VO-ca-tion vs in-VO-ca-tion to lock the rhythm.
US: /ɪnˈvoʊ.keɪ.ʃən/ with rhoticity and similar stressed second syllable. UK: /ɪnˈvəʊ.keɪ.ʃən/ uses a non-rhotic /ˈvəʊ/ and a slightly shorter final syllable; AU mirrors US but can have a more centralized vowel in rapid speech. Key difference lies in the second syllable vowel: US /oʊ/ vs UK /əʊ/; both keep primary stress on the second syllable. Practicing all three helps internalize pitch and timing across regions.
Because it blends a clear two-stressed structure (in-VO-ca-tion) with a diphthong in the second syllable and a light, often reduced final syllable. The /voʊ/ or /vəʊ/ diphthong requires precise mouth opening and tongue position, while the final /ʃən/ can soften quickly in rapid speech. Learners often misplace stress or truncate the middle syllable. Focusing on the rhythm and practicing slow, then faster, helps stabilize the pattern.
Is the middle syllable ever pronounced with a reduced vowel /ə/ in rapid speech? Typically not in careful speech; the middle syllable carries the stronger central vowel /oʊ/ or /əʊ/ depending on accent. In careful enunciation you’ll hear /inˈvoʊ.keɪ.ʃən/ (US) or /inˈvəʊ.keɪ.ʃən/ (UK). In very casual speech, some speakers may slightly reduce the /keɪ/ to a quicker /keɪ/ while preserving primary stress.
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- US: maintain rhoticity near /ɚ/ in adjacent words but keep final /ən/ clear; diphthong in /voʊ/. - UK: non-rhotic, so /vəʊ/ rather than /voʊ/; stress remains on the second syllable; ensure /ˈvəʊ/ onset in the second syllable. - AU: similar to US but with slight vowel shortening; keep /ɔː/ or /oʊ/ depending on speaker. IPA references: US /ɪnˈvoʊ.keɪ.ʃən/, UK /ɪnˈvəʊ.keɪ.ʃən/, AU /ɪnˈvoʊ.keɪ.ʃən/. - Practice strategies: exaggerate the second syllable stress in deliberate practice, then ease into natural rate. - Mouth positions: start with relaxed lips for /ɪ/ or /ɪn/, glide to rounded lips for /oʊ/, then spread to /keɪ/ with a slight jaw drop for the diphthong, finally a soft /ʃən/ with relaxed tongue.
Invocation derives from Latin invocatio, from invocare meaning to call upon, invoke. The root invoc- comes from the Latin verb vocare, to call, with the prefix in- intensifying to call in or forth. The word entered English in the late 15th century, commonly used in religious and ceremonial contexts to denote invoking a deity or blessing. Over time, its sense broadened to include appeals to authority, inspiration, or the muse in literary and rhetorical contexts. In medieval and early modern religious writings, invocatio frequently described the verbal act of addressing the divine during rites. In legal and formal settings, invocation came to signify the act of calling upon a rule, principle, or audience for legitimacy or protection. The term’s semantic range—spiritual calling, prayerful appeal, ceremonial address, and rhetorical appeal—reflects its core idea: to call forth aid, legitimacy, or inspiration from a higher source or principle. The pronunciation has preserved the Latin-influenced stress pattern and clear syllabic division, with the primary stress on the second syllable in modern English (in-VO-ca-tion). First known use in English citations appears around the 15th century in religious and liturgical contexts, gradually widening into secular uses in the 17th–19th centuries as rhetoric and law treatment of invocation as an appeal or argument strengthened.
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Words that rhyme with "invocation"
-ion sounds
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