5 syllables: Re, in, car, na, tion. Stress on na.
ree-in-kahr-NAY-shuhn
/ˌɹiɪnkɑˈɹneɪʃən/
Reincarnation is pronounced ree-in-kahr-NAY-shuhn (/ˌɹiɪnkɑˈɹneɪʃən/). It has five syllables (Re-in-car-na-tion), with the stress on "na". Reincarnation is the belief that the soul or spirit begins a new life in a new body after biological death. It is a philosophical and religious concept found in several traditions, often involving cycles of birth, death, and rebirth. As a noun, it commonly appears in discussions of spirituality, ethics, and metaphysical worldview formation.
nounReincarnation is the belief that the soul or spirit begins a new life in a new body after biological death. It is a philosophical and religious concept found in several traditions, often involving cycles of birth, death, and rebirth. As a noun, it commonly appears in discussions of spirituality, ethics, and metaphysical worldview formation.
How to Pronounce Reincarnation
"Some scholars debate the historical roots of reincarnation in ancient India and Greece."
"The novel explores reincarnation as a central theme, altering the protagonist’s identity across lifetimes."
"Many people in various faiths accept some form of karma that influences reincarnation."
Pronounce as ri-in-kar-ney-shən with primary stress on the third syllable: /riːɪnˈkɑːrneɪʃən/ (US/UK). Mouth positions: start with a long 'ri' /riː/ with the tongue high toward the roof of the mouth, then a light 'in' /ɪn/, followed by a strong 'car' /kɑːr/ with a rounded lip and back tongue, then a gentle 'na' /neɪ/ as in 'bay', and finish with 'tion' /ʃən/ where the tongue lightly touches the palate for the 't' + 'sh' blend and the schwa-like ending. Audio references: consult a pronunciation resource or listene to native speakers on Pronounce or Forvo to hear the rhythm and final consonant blend.
Common errors: misplacing stress (placing it on the last syllable), pronouncing the middle 'car' as /kɑr/ but missing the linking /ɪ/ in 're-in', and flattening the 'tion' to /ʃən/ incorrectly or over-emphasizing it as /tʃən/. Correction: keep primary stress on the third syllable /ˈkɑːr/ and ensure the sequence is /riːɪn-ˈkɑːr-neɪ-ʃən/, with clear /ə/ or /ə/ in the endings depending on dialect. Practice slow, then speed up while maintaining the /ɪ/ in the second syllable, the /ɑː/ in the third, and the /ʃən/ at the end.
US: /riːɪnˈkɑːrneɪʃən/, rhotic with clear /r/ in 'car' and elongated vowels. UK: /riːɪnˈkɑːneɪʃən/, non-rhotic in some dialects but often retains a clear 'r' before a vowel; nuance varies. AU: /riːɪnˈkɑːneɪʃən/, similar to UK but with more straightforward vowel quality and slightly flatter intonation; Australians may reduce the second syllable slightly. Pay attention to rhoticity and vowel length differences: US tends to stronger rhotic /r/, UK ranges from non-rhotic to weak-rhotic depending on region, AU typically rhotic with a broad, clear /r/.
It presents several challenges: a multi-syllable structure with rapid transitions: ri-in-car-na-tion; the central /kɑːr/ cluster is followed by a tense /neɪ/ and a final /ʃən/ blend which can trip speakers when linking syllables. The stress on the third syllable requires precise timing, and vowel length differences across dialects affect the /iː/ vs /ɪ/ in the first syllables. Paying attention to the /ɪ/ to /ə/ sound shift and keeping the /r/ clear in rhotic accents helps stabilize pronunciation.
There are no silent letters in standard pronunciation of reincarnation. Each syllable carries a distinct phoneme: /riːɪn/ (first two syllables require a subtle transition), /ˈkɑːr/ (the 'car' with a clear /r/ in rhotic accents), /neɪ/ and /ʃən/. Some rapid speech might reduce the /ɪ/ in the first word to a schwa or connect /riːɪn/ as /riːn/ in casual speech, but the letter 'i' in 're-' is pronounced as part of the initial vowel sequence, not silent.
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US: rhotic /r/ is pronounced; keep the second syllable /ɪn/ crisp, e.g., 'rih-n' with a light /r/. UK: may be non-rhotic, so the /r/ in /kɑːr/ may be weaker or non-existent when followed by a vowel; still maintain the /ˈkɑː/ as a strong open back vowel. AU: similar to UK with a slightly drawn-out vowel quality and a rolling but not heavy /r/. Vowel length varies by region; US tends to maintain full vowels; UK may reduce /ɪ/ to a shorter sound; AU tends to a more relaxed, even rhythm. IPA references: US /riːɪnˈkɑːrneɪʃən/; UK /riːɪnˈkɑːneɪʃən/; AU /riːɪnˈkɑːneɪʃən/.
Reincarnation comes from Latin reincarnatio, from rein- ‘again’ + caro, carnis ‘flesh’, literally ‘in flesh again’. The term was popularized in Western discourse in the 19th and 20th centuries as scholars translated or synthesized Eastern religious ideas. The root rein- mirrors re- ‘again’, and carn- derives from Latin caro, carnis ‘flesh’, connecting to the notion that the soul or essence returns in a new body rather than ceasing to exist. Earlier European thinkers encountered Hindu and Buddhist concepts of transmigration and metempsychosis, adapting them into philosophical and theological discussions. The phrase consolidated in English usage as interest in comparative religion and spirituality grew, with first widespread English attestations appearing in scholarly writings and translations during the late 1800s. Since then, reincarnation has entered popular culture, religious dialogue, and scientific debates about consciousness, identity, and the nature of life after death.
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Words that rhyme with "Reincarnation"
-ion sounds
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