tranz-GRESH-uhnz
/tɹænzˈɡɹɛʃənz/
transgressions is pronounced tranz-GRESH-uhnz (/tɹænzˈɡɹɛʃənz/). Transgressions refer to acts that violate a law, rule, or moral code. The term typically describes intentional breaches with a moral or legal context, often implying fault or wrongdoing. In literature and discourse, it conveys wrongdoing at a scale from personal to systemic, highlighting boundaries crossed and consequences to be borne.
Transgressions refer to acts that violate a law, rule, or moral code. The term typically describes intentional breaches with a moral or legal context, often implying fault or wrongdoing. In literature and discourse, it conveys wrongdoing at a scale from personal to systemic, highlighting boundaries crossed and consequences to be borne.
- Under-articulating the /ɡr/ cluster, causing a blur between /ɡ/ and /r/. Fix: practice /ɡr/ as a tight, single grind of the tongue tip against the alveolar ridge, then roll into /r/. - Misplacing stress on the third syllable (trans-grê-SSIONS). Fix: practice clapping on the second syllable in isolation: trans-GRESS-ions, then rebuild into words in phrases. - Incorrect ending: pronouncing /ənz/ as /ən/ or /ɪənz/. Fix: end with a light schwa and voiced /z/, keeping final sound short and crisp. - Vowel quality in /ɜː/ or /ɛ/: some say /trænˈɡrɛʃənz/ with a lax /ɛ/ close to /e/. Focus on /ɛ/ as a mid-front vowel and avoid drifting toward /æ/ or /eɪ/. - Full syllable in casual speech: avoid saying all vowels with equal weight; keep the first syllable lighter and let the second carry the primary stress to preserve rhythm.
"The defendant’s transgressions were detailed in the court record, revealing a pattern of deceit over several years."
"Her transgressions against company policy led to disciplinary action and a formal apology."
"We discussed the transgressions of the hero in the novel, noting how they catalyze the plot’s moral dilemma."
Pronounce as /trænsˈɡrɛʃənz/ (US) or /trænˈɡrɛʃənz/ (UK/AU) with stress on the second syllable. Start with /træns/ (like ‘trans’), then /ˈɡrɛʃ/ (like ‘gresh’ with a soft ‘sh’), and end with /ənz/ (unstressed schwa + plural brz). Keep the tongue high in the middle for /ɛ/ and finish with a voiced -z. See IPA references and practice with the phoneme sequence: t + r + æ + n + s + ɡ + r + ɛ + ʃ + ə + n + z.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying trans-GRESS-ions), dropping the /ˈɡr/ cluster, or mispronouncing /ʃ/ as /s/ or /tʃ/. Another frequent issue is lengthening the vowel in the first syllable or turning /ɡrɛ/ into /ɡreɪ/ (like ‘grace’). Correct by applying clear syllable boundaries: trans-gress-ions, ensure the /ɡr/ cluster stays together, and compress the /æ/ to a short, lax vowel. Record yourself to confirm the schwa in /ənz/ is light and not a full syllable.
In US accents, stress lands on the second syllable: tranS-GRESS-ions, with /ɡrɛʃ/ and a clear /z/ ending. UK/AU often mirror that pattern but may feature a slightly more rounded /ɡrɛʃ/ and less rhoticity in surrounding vowels; the ending /ənz/ remains unstressed but audible. AU might show a marginally shorter first vowel and a crisper /z/ at the end. Overall, core sounds are consistent, with minor regional vowel shifts and vowel length differences affecting rhythm rather than syllable stress.
The difficulty comes from the multi-syllabic structure and the /ˈɡrɛʃ/ cluster, which blends /g/, /r/, and /ʃ/ rapidly. The initial /tr/ onset plus the /æ/ before /n/ can trip speakers who don’t keep the /n/ adjacent to /s/. Also, the final /ənz/ has a quick schwa-plus-z sound that can blur in casual speech. Focus on keeping the /ɡr/ together, use a short /æ/ or a near-open front vowel, and finalize with a crisp /z/ to avoid a voiceless or whispered ending.
Yes, the /g/ in transgressions is a hard /ɡ/ sound, not a soft /dʒ/ or silent letter. After the /t/ and /r/ in the onset, the /ɡ/ forms a consonant cluster with /r/ as /ɡr/. Maintain a brief but full articulation of /ɡ/ before the /r/. This helps keep the /ɡr/ sequence distinct and supports the following /ɛ/ vowel. Practicing with minimal pairs like trans- + gresh- vs. tran- + jesh- can help cement the correct hard /ɡ/ articulation.
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- US: emphasize the second syllable with /ˈɡrɛʃ/ and keep /ɪən/ reduced in /ənz/ at the end. Net rhythm: unstressed-STRONG-weak-weak. /t/ + /r/ onset can be snug; avoid a strong doubling of /t/. - UK: similar stress pattern, but vowels may be slightly more clipped; in fast speech, the /ɡr/ cluster can merge slightly, so aim for a clean /ɡr/ before the /ɛ/. - AU: tends to have slightly flatter vowels; keep /ɛ/ close to /e/ in American pronunciation but with minor rounding. Ensure rhotics are less pronounced in non-rhotic contexts, so final /z/ remains audible. - IPA anchors: /trænsˈɡrɛʃənz/ (US) vs /trænˈɡrɛʃənz/ (UK/AU). Practice with mouth positions: /t/ at alveolar ridge, /r/ with a relaxed tongue near the palate, /ɡ/ strong posterior constriction, /ɹ/ or /r/ depending on accent, /ɛ/ mid-front, /ʃ/ blends with /t/ into /ʃ/ sound, final /ənz/ with schwa, then /z/.
Transgressions derives from the verb transgress (to violate a law or moral principle), itself from Latin transgressus, past participle of transgredi “to step over, to go beyond.” The prefix trans- means “across,” and gradi “to walk.” The noun form transgression appeared in English in the 14th century, originally in religious and moral contexts. Over time, its usage broadened to include legal violations and general breaches of rules. The term has maintained a formal, often juridical or moral tone, and appears in legal briefs, theological writings, and literary criticism. The plural form transgressions emphasizes multiple acts or a pattern rather than a single incident. Historically, early citations frame transgression as a fault necessitating judgment or restitution, a pattern that continues in contemporary law, ethics, and social discourse. In modern usage, transgressions can describe personal failing, corporate misconduct, or systemic breaches of norms, and often collocates with accountability, consequences, and remediation.
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