5 syllables: or, ga, ni, za, tion. Stress on za.
awr-guh-nuh-ZAY-shuhn
/ˌɔɹɡənəˈzeɪʃən/
organization is pronounced awr-guh-nuh-ZAY-shuhn (/ˌɔɹɡənəˈzeɪʃən/). It has five syllables (or-ga-ni-za-tion), with the stress on "za". Organization refers to a structured group or system designed to achieve goals efficiently. It can denote the act of arranging components methodically or the formal group itself (e.g., a nonprofit organization). The term implies order, coordination, and deliberate planning, often involving governance, roles, and procedures to sustain functioning and effectiveness in a context or activity.
nounOrganization refers to a structured group or system designed to achieve goals efficiently. It can denote the act of arranging components methodically or the formal group itself (e.g., a nonprofit organization). The term implies order, coordination, and deliberate planning, often involving governance, roles, and procedures to sustain functioning and effectiveness in a context or activity.
How to Pronounce Organization
"The organization of the conference was seamless, from registration to the final keynote."
"She works for a nonprofit organization that focuses on environmental advocacy."
"The organization of the data into categories improved the team's productivity."
Pronounce as /ˌɔːrɡənɪˈzeɪʃn̩/ (US), with primary stress on the -zeɪ- syllable and secondary stress on the first syllable. Break it into four syllables: or-gan-i-ze-tion, with the -tion ending sounding like shn̩. In careful speech you may hear three strong vowel sounds: /ɔː/ as in 'or', /ə/ in the mid syllables, and /eɪ/ in the 'zeɪ' part. You’ll want a clear /z/ or /ʒ/ depending on speaker, but standard is /z/ for American and British varieties.
Common errors: (1) Tripping on the -za- and -tion syllables, saying /ˈɔːrdʒənɪˈzeɪʃn̩/ or /ˌɔːrɡənɪˈzeɪʃn̩/ with misplaced stress. Correction: keep the primary stress on the -zeɪ-: /ˌɔːɡənɪˈzeɪʃn̩/. (2) Reducing /ɔː/ to /ɔ/ or /ɒ/ in British speakers; maintain a full /ɔː/ as in 'or'. (3) Dropping the /ŋ/ in the middle: avoid saying 'organ-ize-tion' with a silent middle nasal; keep /ŋ/ before the -i- or -ə-.
US: syllable-timed with clear /ˌɔːrɡənɪˈzeɪʃn̩/, non-rhoticity in some regions may affect r-coloring before vowels. UK: similar but with a more clipped /ˈɔːɡənɪˈzeɪʃn̩/ and often a stronger vowel in /ɔː/. AU: tends to maintain /ˈɔːɡənɪˈzeɪʃn̩/ with broader vowel qualities, less rhotic influence in some speakers; overall rhythm is similar but with Australian vowel shifts. Key differences: /ɹ/ rhotics, length, and vowel quality in /ɔː/ and /eɪ/.
The difficulty stems from multi-syllabic rhythm and the -i-ze- versus -zi- sequence, plus consonant clusters around -gən- and the final -tion pronounced as /ʃn̩/ in many dialects. The stress pattern places emphasis on the third syllable, which can be tricky when speaking quickly or in connected speech. Additionally, the transition from a nasal /ŋ/ to a vowel /ɪ/ and then to /ˈzeɪ/ demands precise articulatory timing.
Unique to this word, the final -tion is often pronounced as an syllabic /ʃn̩/ in many varieties. You should produce a light but clear alveolar /tʃ/ sound? No; it's /ʃn̩/ combining /ʃ/ + nasal syllabic /n̩/. Pay attention to the timing before the syllabic /n̩/. In careful speech, ensure the /t/ before -ion is not fully released; many speakers reduce it to a softer /t/ and let the syllabic /n̩/ carry the final nasal quality.
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Organization comes from the Medieval Latin organizare, meaning to fit together as an instrument or to form into a functioning whole. The root org-, from Greek orgē, “an instrument, tool, organ,” reflects the sense of assembling parts into a coordinated whole. The suffix -ization (from -izare in Latin) marks the process of making or becoming. In English, organization first appeared in the late 16th to early 17th century, initially in contexts of systems and governance, evolving to its broad modern sense of a structured group or the act of organizing. By the 18th and 19th centuries, the term was enriched with managerial and institutional connotations as bureaucratic structures proliferated. Today, organization covers both abstract concepts (the organization of information) and tangible entities (a trade organization, a charitable organization).
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Words that rhyme with "organization"
-ion sounds
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