3 syllables: mu, ta, tion. Stress on ta.
/mjuˈteɪʃən/
Say it backMutation refers to a change or alteration in the genetic material of an organism or cell, or, more broadly, any sudden, heritable change. It can also denote a change in form or character, often implying a deviation from the original state. In science, it commonly describes a nucleotide-level alteration that can affect phenotype, fitness, or function.
- You may over-enunciate the middle /t/ as in mew-TE-ation; keep a light, almost silent /t/ before /eɪ/ to mimic natural scientific speech. - Another error is stressing the first syllable mu- rather than mu-TA-tion; practice with tempo: slow (mjuː-ˈteɪ-ʃn) then normal, then fast to lock stress on -TA-. - Some speakers nasalize the ending /n/ too strongly or drop the /ʃ/; aim for a clean /ʃn/ blend; practice with a mirror to monitor lip rounding.
"The mutation in the gene led to a rapid emergence of a new trait."
"Researchers studied the mutation rate to understand evolutionary processes."
"A viral mutation can alter transmissibility or vaccine effectiveness."
Pronounce it as miu-TA-shun with three syllables: /ˌmjuˈteɪʃn/. The stress lands on the second syllable. Start with a 'mew' sound /mju/ as in 'mule', then 'TAY' /teɪ/ and finish with 'shn' /ʃn/ where the 't' is often subtle in fast speech. If you need an audio reference, mimic the rhythm of ‘mew-TA-shun’ and align the emphasis to the second syllable.
Common errors include over-articulating the /t/ in the middle, saying a 'tyoo' sequence instead of /tuː/ as in 'mutuation', and misplacing the stress (placing stress on the first syllable mu- instead of mu-TA-tion). The correct pattern is /ˌmjuˈteɪʃn/ with a light, almost elided /t/ followed by /eɪ/ and a clear /ʃn/ at the end. Practice by isolating each segment: /mju/ + /ˈteɪ/ + /ʃn/ and then blend.
In US, UK, and Australian accents, /ˌmjuˈteɪʃn/ remains, but the initial /mju/ can vary: US often merges /ju/ as /u/ or /juː/ with a slightly reduced /j/ onset, UK tends to a crisp /mjuː/ sequence, and AU often sounds more centralized vowels and a slightly stronger following /eɪ/ before /ʃn/. The rhotics are not prominent in non-rhotic accents, so you won’t hear a rhotic /r/ after /t/ or /eɪ/. Overall a two-beat rhythm: mew-TA-shun.
The difficulty comes from the cluster /tʃn/ at the end in fast speech and the two-consonant onset /t/ followed by /ʃn/ making the ending glide tricky. Additionally, the /ju/ sequence at the start can be mispronounced as /ju/ or /juː/ rather than the smoother /mju/ found in careful speech. Practice by slowing to a steady tempo, ensuring the /t/ is lightly released and the /ʃn/ is a single blend rather than two separate sounds.
Does the /tʃ/ sound appear in mutation?
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- US: rhoticity is minimal in formal contexts; the initial /mju/ blends smoothly with a light /j/ sound, so your mouth should start rounded and then glide into the /teɪ/. Vowel quality: /eɪ/ as in 'face' but shorter; avoid a long vowel. - UK: non-rhotic tendency; keep the /ju/ as a short, crisp /mjuː/ with a longer /uː/ quality; /teɪ/ remains clear; final /ʃn/ should be compact. - AU: more centralized vowels; you may hear a slightly broader /ju/ and a punchier /eɪ/; keep the /ʃn/ smooth and avoid over-articulation of /t/. IPA references: /ˌmjuˈteɪʃn/.
The word mutation comes from the Latin mutatio, from mutare meaning 'to change' or 'to alter'. The Proto-Italic root *mout- or *mut- is linked to movement and change, and can be traced back to the Proto-Indo-European root *mag- or *mewH- (to change). In English, mutation first appeared in the 15th century via French mutation or directly from Latin mutatio, meaning a changing or altering. Over time, its usage specialized in biology to describe heritable changes in the genetic material of organisms, particularly changes at the gene or chromosomal level. By the 20th century, mutation broadened to describe any deviation from an established form, including cultural or device-related changes, while retaining its core sense of alteration that persists through generations or iterations. In contemporary science, mutation typically refers to changes that can be inherited, arise spontaneously, or be induced by mutagens, and its implications span genetics, evolution, medicine, and bioinformatics.
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Words that rhyme with "mutation"
-ion sounds
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