4 syllables: Sup, pli, ca, tion. Stress on ca.
suhp-lik-AY-shuhn
/ˌsʌp.lɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/
Supplication is pronounced suhp-lik-AY-shuhn (/ˌsʌp.lɪˈkeɪ.ʃən/). It has four syllables (Sup-pli-ca-tion), with the stress on "ca". Supplication is a formal or earnest request or plea, often addressed to a higher authority or divine being. It conveys humility and persistence, typically involving a sincere, focused appeal rather than a casual request. The term emphasizes the act of begging or petitioning, usually with a respectful tone and a sense of urgency.
nounSupplication is a formal or earnest request or plea, often addressed to a higher authority or divine being. It conveys humility and persistence, typically involving a sincere, focused appeal rather than a casual request. The term emphasizes the act of begging or petitioning, usually with a respectful tone and a sense of urgency.
"In the silence of the chapel, he offered a supplication for guidance and mercy."
"The petitioner raised her voice in supplication, hoping the judge would consider her circumstances."
"Ancient tablets recorded supplications to the gods, seeking rain and fertile harvests."
Pronounce as /ˌsʌ-plə-ˈkeɪ-ʃən/ in most dialects. The stress sits on the third syllable: sup-pli-CA-tion. Start with a clear /s/ and short /ʌ/ as in 'supper,' then a light /plə/ for the second syllable, and end with a crisp /ˈkeɪ/ followed by /-ʃən/. You’ll want a gentle but firm 'k' start to the 'ca' and finish with an unstressed -tion. Audio reference: listen to standard pronunciations on Pronounce or Cambridge dictionary entries and mirror the rhythm of a measured, formal utterance.
Two frequent errors are misplacing the stress and mispronouncing the central vowel cluster. Often speakers stress the first or second syllable rather than -CA-tion, yielding /ˈsʌ-plɪˌkeɪ-ʃən/ or /ˌsəˈplɪkeɪ-ʃən/. Another common pitfall is tensing into a 'pu-plication' or dropping the /l/ in the second syllable. Correct by maintaining a light, penetrative /plə/ then a clear /ˈkeɪ/ and finishing with a soft /-ʃən/. Practice with minimal pairs to internalize the rhythm.
In US English, the initial unstressed syllable often reduces to /sə/; the /plə/ is clear, and the final /ʃən/ is light. UK speakers may maintain clearer /ʌ/ in the first syllable and produce a slightly longer /keɪ/ with less pre-tonic reduction. Australian English tends to be less rhotic and may fuse vowel qualities, presenting a more centralized /ə/ in the first syllable and a crisp /ˈkeɪ/ before the /ʃən/. All share the core /ˌsʌ-plə-ˈkeɪ-ʃən/ skeleton but vary in vowel quality and stress timing.
It challenges you with a multi-syllabic rhythm and a central unstressed schwa in the second syllable, plus a stress shift that lands on the third syllable. The consonant cluster /pl/ must stay light and the /t/ sound isn’t present; instead you move smoothly to /keɪ/. The combination of a stressed long vowel /keɪ/ and final /ʃən/ can tempt a subtle vowel reduction or an overly strong ending. Focus on maintaining even tempo and precise /pl/ release.
A key feature is the placement of primary stress on the 'ca' syllable, making the preceding /plə/ lightly connected. This creates a slight delay before the /keɪ/, so you should time the vowel onset so that the /keɪ/ lands on a strong beat. Additionally, ensure the final /ʃən/ is not reduced to /ən/ too aggressively; keep a crisp /ʃ/ before the syllable finale. IPA cues: /ˌsʌ-plə-ˈkeɪ-ʃən/.
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Supplication comes from the Latin supplicatio, from supplicare 'to kneel and beg, implore,' itself from sub- 'under' + placare 'to please, appease' (root plac- meaning 'to please'). In Late Latin, supplicatio referred to an act of kneeling and praying, often described in religious or legal contexts. The term entered Old French as supplication, then Middle English with the same sense of humble petition or entreaty. Across centuries, its usage expanded beyond strictly liturgical begging to formal pleas in legal, political, or literary settings. The sense of earnest, humble request persisted, and in modern English it can denote a religious plea or a fervent, pleading appeal in secular contexts as well. The etymology tracks a trajectory from a physical posture of submission (kneeling) to an abstract act of asking with humility, reflecting cultural norms about deference in authority and the moral weight carried by a petition.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Supplication" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Supplication"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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