4 syllables: Re, sur, rec, tion. Stress on rec.
rez-ur-EK-shuhn
/ˌɹɛzɚˈɛkʃən/
Resurrection is pronounced rez-ur-EK-shuhn (/ˌɹɛzɚˈɛkʃən/). It has four syllables (Re-sur-rec-tion), with the stress on "rec". Resurrection is the act or process of rising from the dead; in many contexts it also means a revival or revival of something previously inactive. The term combines religious, philosophical, and cultural significance with broader usage in everyday life to describe a renewal or comeback. It is stress-timed and formal to semi-formal in register, often used in religious discourse or literary/figurative language.
nounResurrection is the act or process of rising from the dead; in many contexts it also means a revival or revival of something previously inactive. The term combines religious, philosophical, and cultural significance with broader usage in everyday life to describe a renewal or comeback. It is stress-timed and formal to semi-formal in register, often used in religious discourse or literary/figurative language.
How to Pronounce Resurrection
"- The sermon spoke of Christ's Resurrection and the promise of eternal life."
"- After years of decline, the company announced a Resurrection of its flagship product."
"- Fans celebrated the Resurrection of the local theater after the renovation."
Resurrection is pronounced re-zuh-REK-shən with the primary stress on the third syllable. IPA (US): ˌrɛz.əˈrɛk.sə.tɪən. In careful speech you’ll hear three distinct morphemes: re- + sur- + rection, but the standard modern form collapses to four segments with a strong middle-stress. Start with 'rez' (like 'res' in 'rest'), glide into a soft schwa, then 'rek' (like 'wreck'), followed by a light 'shən' ending. For accuracy, keep the final two syllables crisp and avoid tensing the tongue at the end.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (putting emphasis on the first or last rather than the typical third), and fast, indistinct middle consonant cluster blending leading to 'rez-e-rektion' or 'rez-uh-rek-sen-tion' without the crisp 'rek' syllable. Another pitfall is pronouncing the sequence as ‘rez-uh-REK-suh-shun’ with an extra syllable or misplacing the 't' sound. Correction: emphasize the 'rek' as a distinct syllable and keep the final -tion as -shən with a light, non-tensed tongue. Practice slowing to hear the four distinct chunks.
In US English, you may hear a slightly lighter initial 're' and a clear 'rek' with a rhotic vowel in the first syllable; primary stress remains on the third syllable. UK English tends to maintain closer vowel qualities, with a slightly non-rhotic or weak rhotic influence in connected speech; the middle 'rek' remains prominent. Australian English often features broader vowels and a more centralized ending; the -tion may sound like -shən with a shorter 'ə' and a slightly flatter overall rhythm. In all cases the four-syllable division is preserved, but vowel qualities and rhythm subtly shift.
The difficulty lies in the multi-morphemic structure and the consonant cluster around the middle: the transition from -rez- to -rek- requires precise placement of the tongue and a crisp release of the /k/ before the schwa cluster. The final -tion often reduces to -ʃən, which can blur with adjacent syllables if spoken quickly, and the overall four-syllable rhythm with a stressed third syllable demands controlled breath and timing. Mastery comes from isolating syllables, then blending them smoothly in connected speech.
A key tip is to treat it as four syllables with a strong center: re-zuh-REK-suh-shən; keep the 'rek' syllable crisp and short relative to the flanking schwas. Visualize the word as RE- (unstressed) + sur- (unstressed) + -REK- (stressed) + -tion (unstressed). Practice with a light, forward tongue position for the middle 'rek' and gentle lowering of the jaw into the final -shən. This helps maintain the distinctive rhythm and prevents blending into REZ-ER-ES-UN.
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- US: rhotic, clear /r/ in initial syllable; keep /ə/ in the second syllable as a light, unstressed vowel; final -tion often realized as -ʃən; rhythm is stress-timed with a strong beat on the third syllable. - UK: non-rhotic tendency in careful speech; the /r/ after a vowel may be silent; final -tion still often -ʃən; keep vowel qualities rounded and crisp without overly long vowels; pace is slightly slower with more defined enunciation. - AU: tends to be broader vowels; final -tion as -ʃən; less pronounced final consonant clusters; make the middle /rek/ syllable compact but clear; maintain a steady tempo similar to US but with characteristic vowel openness. Reference IPA: US ˌrɛz.əˈrɛk.sə.tɪən, UK ˌrɛz.əˈrɛk.sən, AU ˌrɛz.əˈrɛk.sən.
Resurrection comes from the Latin resurrectio, from re- (again) + surgere (to rise). The root surg- appears in various Latin words related to rising or waking. Early Christian usage in Latin (resurrectio) signified rising of the dead, central to doctrinal texts; the term entered Old French as resurection and subsequently Middle English with the spelling we recognize today. The first English citations appear in religious discourses of the 14th–15th centuries, expanding in literature and theology. Over time, the sense broadened beyond theology to denote any revival or comeback, including medical, cultural, or technological renaissances. The pronunciation and spelling converged toward the modern form by the 17th century, with the vowel sounds stabilizing but stress pattern occasionally discussed in pronunciation guides as re-sur-REC-tion or RE-suh-REC-tion depending on emphasis. The current form preserves the classical syllabic structure while adapting to contemporary pronunciation norms.
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Words that rhyme with "Resurrection"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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