4 syllables: Re, ve, la, tion. Stress on la.
rev-uh-LAY-shuhn
/ˌɹɛvəˈleɪʃən/
Revelation is pronounced rev-uh-LAY-shuhn (/ˌɹɛvəˈleɪʃən/). It has four syllables (Re-ve-la-tion), with the stress on "la". Revelation is a formal noun referring to a surprising and previously unknown fact revealed by someone, often through a dramatic disclosure or the act of revealing it. It can also denote a divine disclosure or prophecy, especially in religious contexts. The term implies sudden clarity, insight, or unveiling that changes understanding.
nounRevelation is a formal noun referring to a surprising and previously unknown fact revealed by someone, often through a dramatic disclosure or the act of revealing it. It can also denote a divine disclosure or prophecy, especially in religious contexts. The term implies sudden clarity, insight, or unveiling that changes understanding.
How to Pronounce Revelation
"The scientist announced a revelation about the vaccine's mechanism."
"Her sudden revelation during the trial provided crucial new insights."
"In the conference, a major revelation about budget priorities changed the agenda."
Pronounce as /ˌrɛvɪˈleɪʃən/ in US, with primary stress on the third syllable 'leɪ-'. Break it as rev-e-la-tion, with stress on -leɪ-. Start with a light 're' (rhymes with 'red'), then a clear 've-' leading into 'lā' (long A), and finish with '-tion' as 'shən'. So: rev-uh-LAY-shun. Listen closely to the 'lay' vowel; it’s a long A. Audio references include dictionary pronunciations on Cambridge or Oxford.
Two common errors: (1) misplacing stress, saying rev-e-LA-tion with the stress on the wrong syllable; (2) mispronouncing the middle /eɪ/ as /iː/ or /ɛ/. Correction: keep the primary stress on the third syllable (-la-), and produce a clear /eɪ/ as in 'play' for the 'lay' part, not a lax /e/ or /iː/. Ensure the final syllable is a reduced 'shən' /ʃən/ rather than a separate 'tion'.
US: /ˌrɛvɪˈleɪʃən/ with rhoticity and clear /ɪ/ in first syllable; UK: /ˌrɛvəˈleɪʃən/ with non-rhoticity and a schwa in the second syllable; AU: /ɹɛvəˈleɪʃən/ similar to US but with Australian vowel shifts and a relaxed /ɹ/ onset. Focus on the /ɪ/ vs /ə/ in the second syllable and the prominence of /leɪ/ as the peak.
Key challenges include: (1) multi-syllabic word with secondary stress pattern; (2) the /ˌrɛvɪ/ starts with a consonant cluster and a short /ɪ/ before a long /eɪ/; (3) the /ʃən/ ending can be reduced to /ən/ or pronounced clearly as /ʃən/. Tips: emphasize the /eɪ/ vowel and keep the final /t/ silent; ensure the /v/ is voiced and not swallowed by the following /ɪ/.
A distinctive feature is the long central nucleus on the /eɪ/ in the third syllable, which creates a noticeable peak in stress. Also, the presence of a subtle schwa in the second syllable for many speakers (re-və-ˈlā-tion) makes the rhythm variant across accents. Paying attention to the second syllable’s vowel quality and the final /ʃən/ can help you sound natural across contexts.
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Revelation comes from Old French revelacion, from Latin revelatio, from revelare “to unveil, to make bare” (re- “again” + velāre “to veil”). The sense of unveiling emerged in religious contexts to describe God’s disclosure of truth to humanity. In English, the form Revelation with a capital R often denotes the divine disclosure, as in sacred scriptures, while the common noun refers to any striking disclosure. The oldest English usage traces to the 14th century, initially meaning an unveiling or making something visible, with later specialization to prophetic or revelatory content. Over time, the word broadened to secular contexts—scientific, literary, or personal discoveries—while retaining strong connotations of clarity breaking through ignorance. The stress pattern in English centers on the second syllable. The word’s semantic journey mirrors a shift from physical unveiling to epistemic illumination, preserving its core sense of “uncovering what was hidden.”
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Revelation" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Revelation"
-ion sounds
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