3 syllables: own, er, ship. Stress on own.
OH-nur-ship
/ˈoʊnɚˌʃɪp/
ownership is pronounced OH-nur-ship (/ˈoʊnɚˌʃɪp/). It has three syllables (own-er-ship), with the stress on "own". Ownership refers to the legal right or status of possessing something, often implying control, responsibility, and entitlement. It denotes a recognized claim to property or a particular asset, and can involve transfer, protection, or exclusive use. In everyday language, it also covers one’s personal accountability for actions or outcomes tied to a thing or idea.
Ownership refers to the legal right or status of possessing something, often implying control, responsibility, and entitlement. It denotes a recognized claim to property or a particular asset, and can involve transfer, protection, or exclusive use. In everyday language, it also covers one’s personal accountability for actions or outcomes tied to a thing or idea.
- You may mispronounce the diphthong in the first syllable, turning /ˈoʊ/ into a shorter /oʊ/ or a pure /o/. Correction: maintain a tight, tense onset with rounded lips and a clear glide to /ʊ or ʊə/ depending on accent, finishing with /nər/ quickly. - The sequence /nər/ can blur into /nə/; practice crisp /n/ followed by a clear /ər/ with a slightly rhotics-influenced vowel in US. Correction: articulate /n/ with light contact, then form /ər/ as a rhotacized mid central vowel. - Final /ʃɪp/ is easy to slur into /ʃɪ/ or /-sip/; ensure the /p/ is released crisply. Correction: stop the airflow after /ʃ/ and release /p/ cleanly, keeping the tongue behind the teeth for /ʃ/.
"She took ownership of the project and led the team to a successful completion."
"The agreement establishes ownership of the intellectual property and its licensing terms."
"In your statement, please show ownership of the mistakes and outline your corrective actions."
Pronounce as /ˈoʊ.nərˌʃɪp/ in US English, /ˈəʊ.nəˌʃɪp/ in UK English, and /ˈɒː.nəˌʃɪp/ in some Australian varieties. Stress falls on the first syllable, with secondary stress on the final syllable after the /ər/ cluster. The middle /nər/ features a rhotacized or centered vowel depending on accent, followed by /ʃɪp/ for “ship.” Tip: keep the /n/ lightly syllabic before /ər/, and ensure the /ʃ/ is clearly released before the /ɪp/.”,
Common errors include reducing /ˈoʊ/ to a quick /oʊ/ or misplacing the /ˈnər/ cluster, producing /ˈoʊnərˌʃip/ without the light /ɹ/ or mispronouncing the /ʃ/ as /s/ or /tʃ/. Another frequent issue is not fully articulating the final /ʃɪp/, making it sound like /ʃɪ/ or slurring the -ship. Correction: keep the first vowel rounded and tense (American /ˈoʊ/), articulate the /nər/ as a single nasal-plus-schwa with a clear /ɹ/ color, then release /ʃ/ before /ɪp/. Practice slow, then natural pace to lock in the sequence.
US pronunciation tends to have a strong /ˈoʊ/ and rhotics for /ər/; UK often has a shorter /ˈəʊ/ and a less rhotic /ɜː/ coloration in some dialects, with clear /ɒ/ or /ɒː/ for the first syllable in certain regions; Australian varieties commonly reduce /ɒ/ or /oʊ/ toward /ə/ or /ɒ/ depending on speaker, with pronounced final /ʃɪp/. All retain /ʃɪp/ at the end; the main differences lie in the first two syllables and rhoticity.
Ownership integrates a multi-consonant cluster around /nər/ and a voiced postalveolar fricative /ʃ/ before /ɪp/. The /ˈoʊ/ or /ˈəʊ/ onset can be challenging if you’re not used to tense, rounded diphthongs followed by a fast syllable transition. Balancing the /n/ and /ər/ into a smooth, syllabic flow requires careful tongue retraction and jaw relaxation. Slow it down, anchor the /n/ with a light contact, then glide into /ər/ and finally /ʃɪp/ without drawing out the /ər/ excessively.
The sequence /ənər/ between the initial /oʊ/ (or /əʊ/) and the /ʃɪp/ end creates a tricky rhythm, as many speakers unintentionally reduce or alter the middle syllables. Additionally, the 'own' vs. 'on' vowel quality in rapid speech contributes to misplacement of stress or length. To nail it, keep the primary stress on the first syllable, ensure the /n/ and /ə/ blend to a light /nə/ sound, and clearly articulate the /ʃɪp/ ending.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/ in /ər/; maintain strong /oʊ/; ensure a clear /ˈoʊ/ initial. - UK: non-rhotic or weaker rhoticity; keep /əʊ/ pronunciation, ensure the second syllable remains light; /ʃ/ remains precise. - AU: variable rhotics; focus on the /ə/ or /ɒ/ variations; keep final /ʃɪp/ consistent; use broad vowels where appropriate. IPA references: /ˈoʊ.nərˌʃɪp/ (US), /ˈəʊ.nəˌʃɪp/ (UK), /ˈɒː.nəˌʃɪp/ (AU).
Ownership comes from the Old English word a general concept of owning. The modern term derives from the verb own, which traces to Old English agenian or agen, related to possessions and control, with Proto-Germanic roots. Over time, ownership consolidated around the noun form, emphasizing the legal and social status of having property or rights. The suffix -ship, meaning condition or state, attaches to own to form ownership, signaling a state of being the owner. First attested in the sense of possession around the 14th century, ownership evolved through legal and constitutional usage in property, land tenure, and later intellectual property. By the 17th–18th centuries, ownership had become central in civil law, trust law, and corporate governance, where formal recognition of rights to assets, brands, and ideas became critical. In modern usage, ownership often carries both tangible and intangible dimensions—physical property, stocks, copyrights, and even responsibilities—making it a foundational concept in property law and everyday accountability.
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Words that rhyme with "ownership"
-hip sounds
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