2 syllables: le, gion. Stress on le.
LEE-juhn
/ˈlidʒən/
legion is pronounced LEE-juhn (/ˈlidʒən/). It has two syllables (le-gion), with the stress on "le". Legion refers to a large, organized military unit or a vast number of people or things considered together. In historical contexts it denotes a Roman army division, while in modern usage it can describe a myriad of individuals or items, often implying multiplicity and cohesion. The term carries formal, sometimes archaic or solemn connotations, and is used both in military history and literary descriptions.
Legion refers to a large, organized military unit or a vast number of people or things considered together. In historical contexts it denotes a Roman army division, while in modern usage it can describe a myriad of individuals or items, often implying multiplicity and cohesion. The term carries formal, sometimes archaic or solemn connotations, and is used both in military history and literary descriptions.
- Mispronouncing the /dʒ/ as a simple /j/ or /ʒ/ sound, resulting in /ˈliːjən/ or /ˈliːʒən/. Correct by focusing on a sharp palato-alveolar affricate with a brief burst of air. - Over-lengthening the second syllable; keep /ən/ light and unstressed to preserve the two-syllable rhythm. - Compressing /iː/ too short, making it sound like /ɪ/; practice elongating the first vowel while keeping consonants tight. Practice with slow to normal pace.
"The legion marched in formation along the dusty road."
"Rumors spread through the crowd like a legion of whispers."
"The museum displayed artifacts from a legion’s era in ancient Rome."
Pronounce it as LEG-ee-ən with the primary stress on the first syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU: /ˈliː.dʒən/. Break it into two core sounds: /ˈliː/ as a long E in 'see' and /dʒən/ as the 'jən' in 'gentle' or 'region' without the r-colored vowel. Mouth position: start with a high front vowel, then a voiced palato-alveolar affricate /dʒ/ followed by a schwa-like /ən/. You’ll want a clean /dʒ/ without adding a拨 or extra vowel between /iː/ and /dʒ/. Audio references: consider native-noun pronunciation in dictionaries or Pronounce resources for listening to /ˈliː.dʒən/.
Common mistakes include misplacing the /dʒ/ as a plain /j/ (saying /ˈliːjən/) and reducing the /iː/ into a shorter vowel or eliding the second syllable (saying /ˈliːən/ or /ˈleɪdʒən/). Another pitfall is misplacing the stress or turning /liː/ into a lax vowel. Correction: ensure a clear /dʒ/ sound after /liː/ and maintain the full /ən/ at the end with a light, unstressed schwa. Practice by isolating the /liː/ then adding a crisp /dʒ/ plus /ən/.
Across accents, the main difference is vowel quality in the first syllable. US tends to have a longer, tenser /iː/ (like 'leaf'), UK/GA may show a slightly shorter, more clipped /iː/; rhoticity is generally non-rhotic in UK, but in some US dialects the r-coloring is minimal in the first syllable. The /ən/ ending remains relatively light in most dialects. In Australian English, you may hear a slightly more centralized vowel quality in the first syllable and a more rounded /ɪ/ or /iː/ depending on the speaker. Overall, the /dʒ/ is stable in all varieties.
Legion challenges include the voiceless until voiced onset of /dʒ/ and ensuring the /iː/ is held long enough before the /dʒ/ onset, while keeping the final /ən/ light and unstressed. The combination /liː.dʒən/ requires precise tongue position for /dʒ/: middle of the palate, with the tip of the tongue lightly touching the alveolar ridge as air releases. The potential for eliding the /iː/ or conflating /dʒ/ with /j/ is common. Focus on timing and a clean /dʒ/ release.
A key nuance is keeping the second syllable lightly stressed or unstressed depending on speaker, with a crisp, clear onset for /dʒ/. The /ˈliː.dʒən/ structure means you should avoid a secondary emphasis on the second syllable, and prevent a break or glide between /liː/ and /dʒ/. Also, ensure the /ən/ ending doesn’t become a separate syllable by tense or vocalic diphthongization; keep it a soft, quick schwa.
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- US: pronounce /ˈliː.dʒən/ with a clearly enunciated /dʒ/ and a longer /iː/. - UK: align with a slightly shorter /iː/ and a less pronounced rhoticity; end with a quick, soft /ən/. - AU: may feature a slightly more centralized /iː/ and a broader, relaxed tongue posture; keep the /dʒ/ crisp.
The word legion comes from the Latin legio, meaning 'military levy' or 'the body of soldiers assigned to a legion.' Legio itself derives from legere, meaning 'to gather, select, select, choose.' In Roman times a legio was a substantial, organized unit within the Roman army, typically comprising 4,000 to 6,000 infantry and supporting cavalry. The sense of a large number of people emerged in English as a metaphor, extending from the military unit to any vast crowd or multitude. The earliest English attestations date to the 13th century, often in religious or historical texts that evoke the biblical and classical sense of a multitude. Over time, legions are invoked in literature and rhetoric to convey strength, order, and collective force, sometimes with a solemn or martial tone.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "legion" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "legion" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "legion"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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