4 syllables: Pre, di, lec, tions. Stress on lec.
pred-uh-LEK-shuhnz
/ˌpɹɛdəˈlɛkʃənz/
Predilections is pronounced pred-uh-LEK-shuhnz (/ˌpɹɛdəˈlɛkʃənz/). It has four syllables (Pre-di-lec-tions), with the stress on "lec". Predilections are strong inclinations or biases toward particular people, places, or things. They reflect a habitual preference that shapes choices or judgments, often operating below conscious awareness. The term is typically used in formal or analytical contexts to discuss favored tendencies.
nounPredilections are strong inclinations or biases toward particular people, places, or things. They reflect a habitual preference that shapes choices or judgments, often operating below conscious awareness. The term is typically used in formal or analytical contexts to discuss favored tendencies.
"Her predilections for classic literature guided her reading list."
"The research examined scientists' predilections toward certain hypotheses."
"We should be aware of our predilections when evaluating competing theories."
Pronounce as /ˌprɛd.ɪˈlɛk.ʃənz/. The main stress falls on the third syllable, and the suffix -ions is pronounced as -ʃənz. Start with a light, unstressed 'pre' (preh) leading into the stressed 'dil-','eck' portion. Think: preh-dih-LECK-shuhns. For a quick audio cue, listen to Pronounce or YouGlish examples and mimic the rhythm: unstressed-unstressed-STRESSED-unstressed-STRESSED.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (putting primary stress on the second syllable), mispronouncing the 'dili' sequence as /dəˈlɪl/ instead of /dɪˈlɛk/ and softening the /k/ to a /t/ in fast speech. Another frequent mistake is reducing the middle vowel cluster, producing /ˌprɛdɪˈlɛkˌʃənz/ with an extra syllable. Correct by: maintaining a clear three-beat core: pre-dil-ec- tions; ensuring the 'lek' segment uses a clear 'eh' vowel followed by a clear /k/ before the /ʃ/ sound.
US, UK, and AU share the same core sounds, but rhoticity affects the first syllable in some speakers: US and AU often realize /ˌprɛd.ɪˈlɛk.ʃənz/ with a rhotic-like quality on certain speakers, while UK pronunciation tends to be non-rhotic, though /r/ is still not strongly pronounced. The primary variance is in /æ/ versus /eɪ/ shifts in rapid speech and vowel length; Australian speakers may exhibit a slightly broader vowel quality in /ɪ/ and a more centralized /ə/ in the final -ənz depending on individual accent. Overall, keep the /ˌprɛd.ɪˈlɛk.ʃənz/ skeleton and refine the vowels per region.
The difficulty stems from the multi-syllabic structure and the sequence /dɪˈlɛk/ followed by /ʃənz/ with a soft, palato-alveolar sound. The tongue must glide from a light lax vowel in /dɪ/ to a prominent /lɛk/, then transition quickly into /ʃənz/ without adding extraneous vowels. The triple-stress pattern (secondary on the first, primary on the third) can trip speakers who expect more even stress. Practice by isolating the /dɪ-ˈlɛk-/ block and then attaching -ʃənz smoothly.
A unique point is maintaining the subtle distinction between the 'lek' segment and the following 'tions' as /ˈlɛk.ʃənz/ rather than merging into a hard /kʃ/; ensure the alveolar /t/ does not intrude before the /ʃ/. Also, keep the initial 'pre' unstressed, focusing the main stress on the 'lɛk' part. This helps listeners perceive the intended division and prevents a slurred 'predi-leck-shuns' pronunciation.
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Predilections comes from the Latin prefix prae- meaning 'before' and diligo meaning 'to love, to esteem,' combined with the suffix -ectio, forming a noun indicating an inclination. The root diligo yields English derivatives like diligent and deliberate in sense—careful preference. The earliest usage appears in scholarly or legal texts from the 17th century onward, aligning with a period when nuanced psychological or methodological biases were being named and discussed. Over time, predilection evolved to denote not just liking but a systematic or habitual leaning, often implying a subtle, unconscious bias that informs judgments or choices. The word is predominantly used in formal discourse, philosophy, psychology, and critical analysis, rather than everyday casual speech. Modern usage retains its denotative emphasis on a settled preference rather than a momentary taste, and it can pair with ‘for’ (predilection for), ‘toward,’ or ‘to’ depending on syntactic construction. In contemporary writing, predilections are frequently interrogated to reveal cognitive biases in research, policy, or cultural criticism, making the term a valuable analytical tool.
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Words that rhyme with "Predilections"
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