stahr-VAY-shuhn
/stɑˈɹveɪʃən/
starvation is pronounced stahr-VAY-shuhn (/stɑˈɹveɪʃən/). Starvation refers to a state of extreme deprivation in which a person or organism does not receive adequate food or nutrients over a prolonged period. It can lead to severe health consequences, compromised bodily functions, and, in severe cases, death. The term also extends metaphorically to any extreme lack of something essential.
Starvation refers to a state of extreme deprivation in which a person or organism does not receive adequate food or nutrients over a prolonged period. It can lead to severe health consequences, compromised bodily functions, and, in severe cases, death. The term also extends metaphorically to any extreme lack of something essential.
"The refugees faced starvation after months with little food and water."
"Efforts to prevent childhood starvation include nutrition programs and emergency aid."
"Economists warned that inflation could push millions into starvation if wages do not keep pace."
Pronunciation: /ˌstɑrˈveɪʃn/ (US, UK, AU share the same core). Break it into syllables: star-VA-tion. Primary stress on the second syllable: veɪ. Start with /st/ followed by /ɑr/ (open back unrounded vowel + rhotics). The middle vowel is the long /eɪ/ as in “veɪ.” End with /ʃn/ (sh + n). Practice slowly: /stɑr/ + /ˈveɪ/ + /ʃn/. You’ll hear a slight reduction in the final syllable in fast speech: /ˌstɑːˈveɪʃn/. Audio reference: consult standard dictionaries for native speaker recordings.
Common mistakes include misplacing the primary stress, mispronouncing the /ɑr/ as a flat /ɑ/ or /ar/ without the rhotic influence, and softening the /ʃn/ to an /n/ or /ən/. To correct: ensure the middle syllable carries the strong /veɪ/ with clear /eɪ/ diphthong and keep /r/ before it if your accent is rhotic. For non-rhotic speakers, maintain a light /r/ or link to the next syllable without adding a vowel. Practice with the phrase ‘star-VA-tion’ to reinforce the stress and rhythm.
In US English, /ˌstɑrˈveɪʃn/ with rhotic /r/ and clear /veɪ/. UK English tends to be non-rhotic in some regions, which can soften /ˈstɑːˈveɪʃn/ and reduce linking /r/ sounds. Australian English typically preserves rhoticity less strongly in rapid speech, with a slightly centralized /ɑː/ and a more clipped /ʃn/. Focus on the /eɪ/ diphthong in the stressed syllable and how /r/ interacts with following vowels in rhotic varieties.
Starvation challenges include two consonant clusters: /st/ at the start and /ʃn/ at the end, plus the /ɑr/ vowel sequence and the /eɪ/ diphthong, which must be crisp and distinct. The middle stress on /ˈveɪ/ requires precise mouth opening and tongue position to produce the long /eɪ/ without blending with neighboring sounds. For non-native speakers, transitioning from a light /r/ to the following /veɪ/ and then into /ʃn/ can be tricky due to rapid mouth movements.
No, starvation has no silent letters. Each of the five phonemes contributes to the word’s pronunciation: /st/, /ɑr/, /veɪ/, /ʃ/, /n/. The syllable boundaries clearly separate the sounds, and the final consonant /n/ is pronounced in connected speech, though it may reduce slightly in fast, casual speech. Ensure you articulate /ʃ/ before /n/ for the clean /ʃn/ cluster.
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The noun starvation derives from the verb starve, which comes from Middle English sterven, Old French estrangler, or related roots meaning to deprive of food or sustenance. The precise lineage is complex, but by the 15th century, starvation appeared in English to denote the condition of being deprived of food. The root starve traces further back to Proto-Germanic *starbanan, related to the idea of limiting or denying food, while some scholars connect the origin to Old English steartian (to cause to starve) or related forms in other languages that express withholding nourishment. Over time, the term broadened from a literal lack of food to describe extreme deprivation of any essential resource, and in modern usage it is common in medical, humanitarian, and metaphorical contexts. Historical documentation of famine and starvation has been recorded across civilizations, including famines in Europe, Africa, and Asia, with the term increasingly appearing in medical literature in the 19th and 20th centuries to describe severe malnutrition and energy deficiency. First known uses appear in early English medical and humanitarian writings, with broader social discourse emerging as global famines intensified in the modern era.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "starvation" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "starvation" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "starvation"
-ion sounds
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