3 syllables: Trans, gres, sion. Stress on gres.
tranz-GRESH-uhn
/tɹænzˈɡɹɛʃən/
Transgression is pronounced tranz-GRESH-uhn (/tɹænzˈɡɹɛʃən/). It has three syllables (Trans-gres-sion), with the stress on "gres". Transgression is the act or instance of violating a law, command, or boundary. It denotes crossing a moral, legal, or social line and can carry legal or ethical implications depending on context. As a noun, it often appears in formal, religious, or literary discourse to describe a wrongdoing or offense that warrants judgment or consequence.
nounTransgression is the act or instance of violating a law, command, or boundary. It denotes crossing a moral, legal, or social line and can carry legal or ethical implications depending on context. As a noun, it often appears in formal, religious, or literary discourse to describe a wrongdoing or offense that warrants judgment or consequence.
- You often flatten the second syllable by losing the stress or by misplacing it on the first syllable. Ensure the stress sits on the second syllable: trans-GRESSION. - The /ɡr/ blend can become /ɡ/ or /ɡr/ is pronounced too loosely; keep it tight and connected: /ˈɡrɛ/. - The final /ʃən/ can become /sən/ or /zən/; aim for /ʃən/ with a light, non-syllabic /n/. To fix: practice the three-segment chunk: tr-æn-ˈɡrɛ-ʃən, then connect smoothly.
How to Pronounce Transgression
"A transgression against the treaty triggered international sanctions."
"The novel centers on a priest who grapples with the transgression of sacred vows."
"Her minor transgression was overlooked, but the incident raised questions about policy enforcement."
Say /trænˈɡrɛʃən/ in US/UK English. Start with /tr/ as a quick consonant cluster, then /æ/ as the short a in cat, then the stress on /ˈɡrɛ/ with a soft g and a clear /ɛ/ vowel, ending with /ʃən/ where /ʃ/ is like “sh” and /ən/ is a light ending. Pronounce the second syllable clearly: trans-GRESSION. Practice by isolating the stressed syllable: /ˈɡrɛ/ and then blend.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying tran-GRESSION) and mispronouncing the /ɡr/ cluster (saying /ɡrɪ-/ or dropping the /r/). Another frequent slip is turning /ʃən/ into /sən/ or /ʃən/ with a reduced vowel. Correct by stressing the second syllable, preserving the /ɡr/ blend, and finishing with /ʃən/. Recording yourself helps you hear the exact rhythm and consonant timing.
In US, /trænˈɡrɛʃən/ with rhoticity present; in many UK varieties you’ll hear a slightly darker /ɒ/ in some dialects, but standard RP remains /trænˈɡreɪʒən/ or /ˈtrænsˌɡreʃən/? However, common UK pronunciation remains /trænˈɡreʃən/ for educated speech. Australian tends toward /træŋˈɡrɛʃən/ with a broader vowel in /æ/ and a less pronounced /ɡ/ release. The core syllables stay, but vowel quality shifts subtly by region.
Key challenges are the consonant cluster /tr/ at the start, the /ɡr/ blend, and the unstressed final /ən/. The /æ/ vs /a/ vowel in the first syllable can drift in dialects, and the /ɡr/ sequence can feel tricky to keep smooth. Focus on a quick /t/ release, then a precise /r/ after, and a connected /ɡr/ that doesn’t separate into two syllables. Use slow practice to perfect the transition between syllables.
There is no silent letter in Transgression. Every letter contributes to the progression of syllables: /træ/ - /nˈɡrɛ/ - /ʃən/. The challenge is not a silent letter but the multi-syllable weight. Maintain steady tempo and prevent the final /n/ from swallowing the preceding /ə/ by finishing with a crisp /ən/.
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- US: rhotic /ɹ/ in most speakers; keep /r/ clearly articulated after /ɡ/. Vowel in /æ/ often brighter. - UK: more conservative vowel quality, sometimes a slightly lower /æ/; keep /ˈɡreʃ/ evenly stressed and crisp /ʃən/. - AU: vowels tend to be broad; /æ/ can be more open; maintain the /ɡr/ blend and reduce vowel reduction in unstressed syllables. Always reference IPA: /trænˈɡreʃən/ vs /træŋˈɡreʃən/; focus on the rounded /ɜ/ where applicable. - General tip: keep the second syllable steady, avoid vowel reduction in /ˈɡreʃ/.
Transgression comes from the Old French transgression (13th century) meaning breach or violation, itself from Latin transgressus, past participle of transgredi “to go across, cross over.” The prefix trans- meaning “across” combined with gradi, “to go, walk.” In Latin, transgressus signified stepping beyond a boundary or boundary-line, and by the medieval period the term shifted toward legal, moral, and religious breach. In English, transgression gained prominent use in jurisprudence and theology, often paired with moral law or divine command, signaling culpable crossing of a boundary. The word passed into broader English usage in the early modern era, retaining its formal, weighty tone, and has since become common in literature, ethics discussions, and legal or policy contexts to describe violations or offenses that breach established norms. Across centuries, the nuance has remained: a deliberate crossing of a defined boundary, with implications for accountability and consequences.
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Words that rhyme with "Transgression"
-ion sounds
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