3 syllables: Trans, i, tion. Stress on i.
tran-ZISH-uhn
/tɹæˈnzɪʃən/
Transition is pronounced tran-ZISH-uhn (/tɹæˈnzɪʃən/). It has three syllables (Trans-i-tion), with the stress on "i". Transition is the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another. It often refers to moving from one phase, system, or location to a new one, typically involving some form of change management or adaptation. The term is commonly used in contexts like career evolution, project phases, or geographical relocation.
nounTransition is the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another. It often refers to moving from one phase, system, or location to a new one, typically involving some form of change management or adaptation. The term is commonly used in contexts like career evolution, project phases, or geographical relocation.
"The company is planning a smooth transition to a remote-work model."
"During the transition between programs, users may notice brief interruptions in service."
"The student’s transition from high school to college required careful preparation."
Pronounce as /trænˈzɪʃən/. The primary stress is on the second syllable: tran- ZIH- shûn. Start with /træ/ as in cat, then /n/ plus /ˈzɪ/ where the Z is voiced and the following syllable uses a short /ɪ/ vowel. The final /ən/ is a quick, schwa-like syllable. Listen for the subtle 'zh' sound in the middle created by /ʒ/ combined with /ʃ/ influence, sounding like
Two common errors: 1) stressing the first syllable instead of the second (trans-ˈɪʃən) — ensure the primary stress is on /ˈzɪ/; 2) mispronouncing the /z/ as /s/ or making /ʃ/ too strong— keep the middle sound light and voiced /z/ followed by a clean /ɪ/. Practice with minimal pairs like /trænˈzɪʃən/ vs /trænˈsɪʃən/ to feel the /z/ vs /s/ contrast.
US, UK, and AU share /trænˈzɪʃən/ but minor differences exist: US tends to a more rhotic, slightly tighter /ɹ/ context and clearer /z/; UK may show a slightly crisper /ˈzɪ/ with flatter vowel quality; AU is similar to UK but can feature a more reduced /ə/ in the final syllable and a subtle vowel shift in /ɪ/ towards a more centralized sound. Overall, the core is /trænˈzɪʃən/ with small vowel quality shifts.
The difficulty centers on the mid- word cluster: the /ˈzɪ/ sequence can blur if you’re not voicing the /z/ clearly, and the final /ən/ can reduce to a quick schwa that hides if you don’t exaggerate it slightly in practice. Additionally, stress is on the second syllable, which can clash with English rhythm for non-native speakers who expect primary stress on the first syllable. Working on the consonant-vowel timing helps stabilize this word.
Unique nuance: the /z/ is clearly voiced and contrasts with the surrounding affricate-like /t/ onset and /ʃ/-like quality of /ʃ/ within the /ʃən/ portion. The /t/ is released lightly before the /z/ and the /ʒ/-like impression comes from the /ʒ/ component in some speakers as it blends toward /ʃən/. Practicing with ipa-focused drills helps you hear and reproduce that transition.
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Transition comes from the Latin verb transire, meaning to go across or to cross. The root trans- meaning across, plus ire meaning to go. In Late Latin, transitus referred to a passage or crossing, which entered English through Old French as transition. The sense broadened in Middle English to include the act or process of changing from one state to another, a usage that established by the 15th century. Over time, transition acquired specialized senses in fields like linguistics (phonological transitions), music (modulation between keys), and social sciences (socioeconomic structural transitions). The word maintains the core idea of crossing from one form to another while expanding to describe processes, phases, and thresholds rather than abrupt jumps. First known uses appear in medieval Latin and Old French texts, with English adoption occurring by the 14th–15th centuries, reflected in legal and ecclesiastical writings before becoming common in everyday language. Throughout its evolution, transition retained its metaphor of movement through a boundary, with emphasis on duration, process, and potential impact on systems, individuals, and outcomes.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Transition" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Transition" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Transition"
-ion sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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