tur-muh-NAY-shuhnz
/ˌtɝməˈneɪʃənz/
terminations is pronounced tur-muh-NAY-shuhnz (/ˌtɝməˈneɪʃənz/). Terminations refers to the act or process of bringing something to an end or conclusion. In linguistics or formal discussion, it can denote the plural form of termination, indicating multiple instances of an ending, cessation, or stoppage. The term is commonly used in contexts like contract terminations, job terminations, or biological terminations in genetics or cellular processes.
Terminations refers to the act or process of bringing something to an end or conclusion. In linguistics or formal discussion, it can denote the plural form of termination, indicating multiple instances of an ending, cessation, or stoppage. The term is commonly used in contexts like contract terminations, job terminations, or biological terminations in genetics or cellular processes.
"The company announced several terminations of contracts with international partners."
"Her termination from the project came after repeated budget overruns."
"Terminations of pregnancy are legally regulated in many countries, but terminology varies by context."
Pronounce as /tɜːr-mɪ-ˈneɪ-ʃənz/ (US), with primary stress on the -ny- syllable: ter-MI-na-tions. In careful speech, the sequence is ter-muh-NAY-shuhns, but avoid a weak first vowel collapse. Place your tongue mid-low for the first syllable, lips relaxed; the second syllable uses a short i, and the third syllable carries the main stress with a clear -ney- diphthong. You’ll hear it as ter-MI-na-tions in fast speech, but enunciate the -ni- as a separate syllable to preserve accuracy; audio resources like Pronounce or Forvo can help model the rhythm.
Common errors: 1) Dropping the second syllable so it sounds like ter-min-ations or ter-mi-nations with reduced middle; 2) Misplacing stress on -na- rather than -ney-; 3) Merging the -tions ending into a quick -shənz or -tunz, causing a blurred final. Correction: articulate four clear syllables ter-mi-NEY-shuhnz; keep the final -z sound crisp. Practice by isolating the -NEY- and -shənz ending with slow repetitions, then blend into normal speed.
US: rhotic with clear /r/ in initial position and a strong /ɪ/ in -mi-, final is /ʃənz/. UK: non-rhotic /r/ and a slightly shorter /ɪ/; final -ations may be realized closer to /-eɪ.ʃənz/ depending on speaker. AU: similar to US but with a flatter, broader vowel tone; /ɜː/ can sound longer with more vowel color. Overall, US may have a more overt rhotic quality, UK may compress the -r into no rhoticity, and AU sits between, with distinctive vowel height variations.
The difficulty stems from the multi-syllabic emphasis pattern and the 'tion' cluster at the end, where /-ʃənz/ follows a stressed /neɪ/ vowel cluster. The combination of a mid-central schwa in fast speech, a diphthong in -ney-, and keeping four distinct syllables intact while maintaining normal speed creates a tendency to compress or blend. Practicing slow, precise syllable-by-syllable delivery helps stabilize the rhythm and prevents mispronunciations.
A unique feature is the /-neɪ-/ diphthong in the stressed syllable and the final /-z/ or /-s/ voicing that follows, which can be confusing when the preceding consonant ends with a voiceless cluster. Ensure the /n/ is clearly released before the /eɪ/ and that the final /z/ is voiced, not aspirated, especially in careful speech. Listening to native recordings will help you internalize the exact tension and timing.
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Terminations comes from the Latin terminus, meaning boundary or limit, and the suffix -ation, which forms nouns indicating an action or process. Terminus itself originates from the Latin primium term- meaning end, finish. The concept travels through Old French as termination and into English by the late Middle Ages, maintaining its core sense of a boundary, end point, or conclusion. In science and law, the term broadened to denote actions that end or suspend a state, contract, or process. The word’s plural form, terminations, follows standard English pluralization for nouns ending in -ation. First known uses appear in legal, mathematical, and scientific texts where the notion of ending a process or contract is central, with evidence in 16th–18th century English writings expanding to diverse technical domains.
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Words that rhyme with "terminations"
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