/ˌɹɛpjəˈteɪʃənz/
Say it backReputations are the beliefs or opinions that others hold about someone or something, especially regarding character, behavior, or performance. The term typically refers to how a person, organization, or idea is regarded in the eyes of the public, often shaped by actions, media, and discourse. It can carry positive, negative, or mixed connotations depending on context and evidence.
"Her reputations in the industry helped her secure the leadership role."
"The scandal damaged several reputations, even if the facts remained contested."
"They weighed the reputations of competing firms before selecting a partner."
Pronounce it as /ˌrɛpjəˈteɪʃənz/ in US and /ˌrepjʊˈteɪʃənz/ in UK spelling. The primary stress falls on the third syllable: re-pu-TA-tions, with secondary stress on the first syllable in many speakers. Start with a light, compressed /r/ followed by /ɛ/ in US; UK often uses a schwa in the second syllable. End with /ənz/ rather than /eɪʃənz/. For listening reference, imagine the rhythm: re-PYU-ta-tions, with a clear final s.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (often misplacing stress on the first syllable) and mispronouncing the middle vowel as /i/ or /iː/ instead of the unstressed schwa /ə/ or /jə/. Another frequent mistake is elongating the final syllable or /-tɪənz/ becoming /-ʃənz/. Correct by: (1) keeping a light secondary stress on the first syllable, (2) using a short /ə/ in the second syllable, and (3) ending with /ənz/ rather than /eɪʃənz/.
In US English, you’ll hear /ˌrɛpjəˈteɪʃənz/ with a rhotic /r/ and a schwa in the second syllable; the /t/ is a crisp, alveolar stop. UK speakers often reduce the second syllable to /jə/ or /pjʊ/ and may have a shorter /ɪ/ in unstressed vowels, with /ˈteɪʃənz/. Australian tends toward /ˌɹɛpjʊˈteɪʃənz/ with vowel quality leaning toward /ə/ or /ɐ/ and a less prominent final syllable, maintaining rhoticity but with vowel merging in rapid speech.
The difficulty centers on managing multi-syllabic stress patterns and the cluster around the /tʃ/ or /t/ release in fast speech, plus the sequence /pjə/ that can drift toward /pju/ for some speakers. The main challenge is keeping the secondary stress on the first syllable while delivering a clear /ˈteɪʃənz/ ending without a drawn-out vowel. Practicing the sequence and recording helps you hear and adjust the rhythm.
The unique question involves the subtle vowel shifts and consonant timing across the second and third syllables: /pjə/ or /pjʊ/ can vary with speaker and phonetic environment, and the /t/ before /eɪ/ can be lightly released in rapid speech. Stress placement also toggles slightly with focus: you may hear secondary stress on the first syllable while the third carries primary stress in certain phrases.
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The word reputation derives from the Middle English reputacioun, from Old French reputacion, which itself comes from Latin reputatio, from reputare “to think over, consider, reckon up.” The Latin root reput- is from re-, “back, again,” combined with putare, “to think, cut, prune, reckon.” In Latin, reputatio involved contemplation and estimation of one’s character or public opinion, extending to the idea of what is believed about someone. In English, reputation initially emphasized one’s character and earned esteem; by the late Middle Ages it broadened to include general opinion or report about a person, company, or thing. Over centuries, reputations became central in social and commercial life, influencing trust, alliances, and decision-making. Modern usage often pairs with “public,” “corporate,” or “personal” qualifiers, and “reputations” is the plural form used when multiple opinions or frameworks exist about different entities. The term retains a strong moral and social dimension, with shifts in media and communication technologies intensifying how reputations are formed and contested. First known use in English can be traced to the 15th century, though the concept existed earlier in various cultures under different terms for communal judgment and esteem.
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Words that rhyme with "reputations"
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