4 syllables: Re, sig, na, tion. Stress on na.
rez-uhg-NAY-shuhn
/ˌɹɛzəˈɡneɪʃən/
Resignation is pronounced rez-uhg-NAY-shuhn (/ˌɹɛzəˈɡneɪʃən/). It has four syllables (Re-sig-na-tion), with the stress on "na". Resignation is a noun meaning the act of quitting a job or office, often accompanied by formal notification. It can also imply the acceptance of something undesirable, or an attitude of submission. The term typically appears in formal or professional contexts and centers on the act or state of stepping away from a role or responsibility.
nounResignation is a noun meaning the act of quitting a job or office, often accompanied by formal notification. It can also imply the acceptance of something undesirable, or an attitude of submission. The term typically appears in formal or professional contexts and centers on the act or state of stepping away from a role or responsibility.
- Common phonetic challenges: 1) Stress misplacement: Primary stress on the second syllable (re-ZIG-na-tion) rather than the third (re-sig-NA-tion). Fix: practice with clapping or tapping on the third syllable to anchor stress. 2) Vowel quality in -ne-: Treat the /neɪ/ as a clear diphthong; avoid reducing to /ne/. Practice: isolate /neɪ/ in slow repetition and then attach to surrounding segments. 3) Final /ʃən/ cluster: Ensure the /ʃ/ is soft and the final /ən/ is not overly nasalized; keep the tongue relaxed for a clean -tion ending. - Tips: use minimal pairs like “nation” and “resignation” to lock in the -neɪ- vs -nə- distinction; record and compare; use tongue-twister drills to stabilize rhythm.
How to Pronounce Resignation
"She handed in her resignation yesterday and started a new career."
"His resignation was accepted by the board after weeks of consideration."
"The politician’s sudden resignation surprised many voters."
Pronounce as /ˌrɛzɪgˈneɪʃən/. Break it into re-ZIG-nay-shun, with primary stress on the third syllable: neɪ. The initial /ˌrɛ/ begins with a rolled-like American /ɹ/ following a short /ɛ/ vowel; the middle /zɪg/ is quick, and the final /ˈneɪʃən/ ends with a soft schwa or /ə/ before n. Lips slightly spread, tongue relaxed, jaw neutral. Audio reference: [Think of the word “reason” without the second syllable, then add -ation].
Two common errors: 1) Stress misplacement, pronouncing re-ZIG-NA-tion with primary stress on the second syllable. Correct: /ˌrɛzɪgˈneɪʃən/ with primary stress on neɪʃən. 2) Vowel reduction or merging, saying /ˌrɛzɪˈɡneɪʃən/ or muddling the /neɪ/ into /nɪ/; keep the /eɪ/ diphthong in the third syllable. Practice by isolating the /neɪ/ as a clear long vowel and avoid inserting extra syllables.
US tends to have a slightly tighter /ɪ/ in the second syllable and a more pronounced /r/ at the start; final -tion often sounds like /ʃən/. UK typically has a clearer /ɪ/ and can have a slightly less rhotic initial; AU shares US/UK patterns but with a flatter overall intonation and softer /ə/ in the last syllable. In all, the primary stress remains on the third syllable, but vowel qualities and rhoticity shift subtly with locale.
The difficulty lies in the multisyllabic segmentation and the /zɪg/ cluster between /ˈ/ and /neɪ/. The sequence re- ziga- tion demands clear separation of syllables and accurate placement of primary stress. The /neɪ/ diphthong requires a proper glide between /e/ and /ɪ/. Finally, the final /ʃən/ cluster can lead to a softer or clipped ending if the tongue doesn’t relax. Practice chunking: re-zig-nay-shun with measured rhythm.
A unique feature is the two-part near-diphthong /ɪˈneɪ/ in the stressed root of the word: /rɛ-zɪ-ɡˈneɪ-ʃən/. The key is to articulate the /ˈneɪ/ as a distinct, rising diphthong and not as a short /nə/; keep the /ɡ/ as a hard onset following the /zɪ/. This helps prevent mispronouncing it as re-zig-uh-shun or re-zay-shun.
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- US: rhotics are strong; maintain clear /r/ at the start. Dipthong /eɪ/ may be slightly longer; final /ʃən/ should be crisp but not overemphasized. - UK: slightly less rhotic, smoother transition into /neɪ/; /ɜː/ or /ə/ can color the middle vowels; keep the final /ən/ light. - AU: flatter intonation, similar vowel qualities to US/UK but with a tendency toward reduced final syllables; emphasize steady /ˈneɪ/ and a gentle /ʃən/. IPA references: US /ˌrɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən/, UK /ˌrɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən/, AU /ˌrɛzɪɡˈneɪʃən/.
Resignation comes from the late Latin resignatio, from resignare meaning to renounce or give up. The root is re-, meaning back, and signare, meaning to seal or mark, reflecting an act of signing away a position. In Medieval Latin, resignatio referred to the formal act of relinquishing an office or title. The term entered English via Old French, retaining its formal/official sense of handing back a post or power. By the 15th century, resignation was used in legal and ecclesiastical contexts to denote voluntary withdrawal from duties. Over time, the sense broadened to include passive acceptance in everyday language (a sense of acceptance rather than action), though modern usage usually emphasizes the formal act of quitting a job rather than mere acceptance. In contemporary use, resignation can also denote a passive attitude, as in “resignation to fate,” but professional contexts most strongly align with the act of stepping down. The evolution shows a shift from a strict legal/official denotation to a broader psychological/behavioral one, though the noun retains a formal tone. First known use in English literature appears in the late medieval period, with clear legalistic connotations by the Renaissance.
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Words that rhyme with "Resignation"
-ion sounds
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