4 syllables: Ov, u, la, tion. Stress on la.
oh-vyuh-LAY-shuhn
/ˌoʊvjəˈleɪʃən/
Ovulation is pronounced oh-vyuh-LAY-shuhn (/ˌoʊvjəˈleɪʃən/). It has four syllables (Ov-u-la-tion), with the stress on "la". Ovulation is the phase of a female menstrual cycle when a mature egg is released from the ovary, making fertilization possible. It typically occurs mid-cycle and is signaled by hormonal changes that prepare the body for potential pregnancy. The term is used in medical, educational, and everyday health contexts.
nounOvulation is the phase of a female menstrual cycle when a mature egg is released from the ovary, making fertilization possible. It typically occurs mid-cycle and is signaled by hormonal changes that prepare the body for potential pregnancy. The term is used in medical, educational, and everyday health contexts.
- You may drop the /j/ in the /vju/ cluster or slide it into a simple /vju/ -> /vu/; fix by explicitly articulating the /j/ before the vowel sound. - Misplaced primary stress on the first syllable; correct by marking the main beat on the third syllable (la). - Finishing with a faint /ən/; practice a crisp /ən/ with a small nasal vowel, not a silent end. - Slurring the /ʃən/ into /ʃn/; keep the /ʃ/ clearly released and followed by a schwa or /ən/. - Rushed speech makes the long /ˈleɪ/ feel like /ˈleɪn/; practice slow-to-fast tempo to preserve the diphthong and syllable boundaries. Use minimal pairs and recording to verify you’re hitting each segment clearly.
How to Pronounce Ovulation
"Doctors may discuss the timing of ovulation to help with conception or fertility tracking."
"Women monitoring their cycle often note ovulation as a key indicator of peak fertility."
"Ovulation pain, called mittelschmerz, can accompany the release of the egg for some individuals."
Pronounce as /ˌɒ.vjuˈleɪ.ʃən/ (US: /ˌɑː.vjuˈleɪ.ʃən/). Primary stress on the third syllable ‘la’, with a secondary stress on the second syllable ‘vju’. Start with a short ‘o’ as in ‘hot’, glide to an unstressed ‘vju’ blend, then a clear ‘lay’ and ending with ‘shən’. If you’re unsure, break it as o-vu-la-tion and say each part slowly before merging.
Common errors include merging the ‘vju’ into a simple ‘vyu’ or ‘oo’ sound, misplacing the main stress (placing it on the first or second syllable), and softening the final ‘tion’ to a quick ‘n’ or ‘shun’ without the full ‘ʃən’. Correct by emphasizing the /vju/ sequence, stressing the ‘la’ syllable, and finishing with a clear /ʃən/. Practice: o-vu-LA-tion with the final two sounds crisp.
All three accents share /ˌɒvjuˈleɪʃən/ patterns, but US often shows a slightly broader vowel in /ˌɑː/ and a less rhotic rhythm in rapid speech, while UK may reduce the initial /ɒ/ to a shorter /ɒ/ plus a crisper /vju/ cluster. Australian English can exhibit a tighter vowel in the first syllable and a more pronounced /ju/ glide. The key is maintaining the /vju/ sequence and the /ʃən/ ending across accents.
Two main challenges are the /vju/ consonant cluster and the multi-syllabic rhythm with three stressed segments. The /v/ + /j/ blend requires careful lip positioning, and the /ʃ/ in the final syllable demands a gentle, controlled release. Practicing the /vju/ blend in isolation and linking it to the stressed /ləɪ/ helps. Awareness of syllable timing also prevents rushing the final /ən/.
A unique feature is the unstressed, quick transition from /j/ to /u/ in the /vju/ sequence and the length of the final syllable /ən/. Some speakers may de-emphasize the /ləɪ/ portion in fast speech, producing /ˌɒvjuˈleɪ.ʃn/; aim for the canonical /ˌɒ.vjuˈleɪ.ʃən/. Focusing on the exact sequence o-vu-la-tion and practicing with sentence contexts will reinforce accuracy.
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- US: emphasize the /ɒ/ or /ɑː/ in the first syllable, keep a mild r-influence for the /ju/ sequence, and ensure a clear /ʃən/ ending. - UK: slightly shorter first vowel, crisper /vju/ than US, maintain non-rhoticity unless you’re in a rhotic region; finalize with /ʃən/. - AU: distinctive broad vowels, a tighter /ju/ and a more even stress distribution across syllables; maintain /ˈleɪ/ as a clear diphthong and end with a precise /ən/. Across all, use IPA as reference and practice the /vju/ blend tightly.
Ovulation derives from the Latin word ovulatio, from ovi- (egg) + -latus (carried or brought). The root ovi- traces to ovum, Latin for egg, which itself comes from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂ówn- meaning egg or seed. The suffix -ation is a common noun-forming ending from Latin -atio. The modern medical term was adopted into English during the scientific naming of reproductive processes in the 17th–19th centuries as anatomy and physiology texts formalized terms for egg release. The word’s core meaning shifted from a general “egg’s journey” to the precise event of ovum release during the ovulatory cycle, as physiology and endocrinology advanced. The term now appears in clinical literature, fertility literature, and general science communication, with consistent reference to its place in the menstrual cycle and its role in reproduction.
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Words that rhyme with "Ovulation"
-ion sounds
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