2 syllables: Man, sions. Stress on Man.
MAN-chuhnz
/ˈmæntʃənz/
Mansions is pronounced MAN-chuhnz (/ˈmæntʃənz/). It has two syllables (Man-sions), with the stress on "Man". Mansions is the plural noun for large, impressive houses. It refers to grand residences often associated with wealth or historical estates, typically with substantial size, multiple rooms, and notable architecture.
nounMansions is the plural noun for large, impressive houses. It refers to grand residences often associated with wealth or historical estates, typically with substantial size, multiple rooms, and notable architecture.
How to Pronounce Mansions
"The city’s old district is filled with elegant mansions and manicured grounds."
"During the tour, we visited several mansions that date back to the 19th century."
"He inherited several mansions from his aunt, each with its own distinctive style."
Pronounce as MAN-shuhnz, with primary stress on MAN. IPA: /ˈmæn.ʃənz/. The first syllable uses /æ/ as in cat, the second is a neutral schwa /ə/ followed by the /nz/ ending. Your mouth stays relatively relaxed mid-front for /æ/ and the /ʃ/ is a palatal sh sound. See audio reference linked in the video tutorial for a precise glide and vowel reduction in connected speech.
Common errors include treating it as two separate syllables with a strong separate vowel: ma-N-ions, or shrinking the second syllable so it sounds like /ˈmæn.ʃɪnz/ with a clipped schwa. Another frequent mistake is mispronouncing the final cluster as /-ənz/ with an extra vowel or confusion with ‘mansion’ singular. Correct it by maintaining /ˈmæn.ʃənz/ with a clear /ə/ in the second syllable and final /z/ voice, and practice linking the /ʃ/ to the following /ən/ smoothly.
Across accents, the vowel in the first syllable remains /æ/ in US, UK, and AU, but non-rhotic accents may influence the following /ən/ toward a weaker schwa in connected speech. The primary syllable stress stays on MAN. The final /z/ is voiced in all. In fast speech, some speakers may merge /ən/ into a schwa + nasal with a light /n/ or even reduce to /ənz/ quickly. Overall, the core /ˈmæn.ʃənz/ pattern remains consistent, with minor vowel coloration differences.
Difficulty comes from the /ʃ/ sound followed by a weak /ən/ syllable: /ˈmæn.ʃənz/. The /ʃ/ is a palatal fricative that sits behind the teeth and palate, not a typical /s/ or /ʒ/. The second syllable uses a neutral /ə/ that can shrink in rapid speech, risking mis-stress or vowel quality. Additionally, the plural ending /-z/ must be voiced. Practice by isolating /ʃən/ and linking it to /z/ with a short, clean transition.
Consider: Does the final /z/ in mansions assimilate with a following voiceless consonant in rapid speech? In isolation, it’s /ˈmæn.ʃənz/, but before a voiceless consonant in connected speech you might hear /ˈmæn.ʃən̥s/ or a slightly devoiced /ˈmæn.ʃənz/. The important factor is maintaining the primary stress on MAN and a clear /ʃ/ before the schwa and final /z/.
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Mansions originated in Middle English borrowed from the Old French mansun, from Latin mansio(n-), meaning stay or dwelling, related to manere “to remain.” The root is tied to Latin mansus (dwelling) and mansus “a stay or residence,” with the sense evolving from ‘dwelling house’ to ‘large house’ as architectural grandeur became associated with wealth. The word entered English via Norman-French influence, reinforcing the semantic shift from simple shelter to substantial, stately houses. By the 16th–17th centuries, mansions referred to grand country houses for the elite, expanding to plural usage as estates grew in scale. First known uses appear in legal and architectural texts describing property with substantial homesteads. Over time, “mansion” narrowed in some dialects to denote luxury residences, while “mansions” maintains the plural for multiple such buildings, often implying historical or architectural significance. The term sits alongside related forms like “manor” and “estate,” with nuance depending on region and period. In modern usage, “mansion” connotes prestige, size, and architectural grandeur, rather than mere shelter. The plural form aligns with lists of properties or classes of stately homes in discussing architecture and real estate.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Mansions" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Mansions"
-ons sounds
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