2 syllables: Vi, sion. Stress on Vi.
VIZH-uhn
/ˈvɪʒən/
Vision is pronounced VIZH-uhn (/ˈvɪʒən/). It has two syllables (Vi-sion), with the stress on "Vi". Vision is a noun referring to the ability to see or to imagine a future possibility. It also denotes a mental image or plan, or (in organizational contexts) a guiding mission. The term encompasses literal sight, foresight, and aspirational goals, and is used across science, business, art, and everyday language to describe perception, ideas, or outlooks.
nounVision is a noun referring to the ability to see or to imagine a future possibility. It also denotes a mental image or plan, or (in organizational contexts) a guiding mission. The term encompasses literal sight, foresight, and aspirational goals, and is used across science, business, art, and everyday language to describe perception, ideas, or outlooks.
- Mispronouncing the middle /ʒ/ as /ʃ/ or /z/, which changes the word’s natural resonance. To fix: practice the tongue blade approximating the alveolar ridge with a voiced, buzzing /ʒ/. - Over-articulating the second syllable by using a strong vowel like /iː/ instead of a quick schwa; this makes the word sound slower and less natural. Aim for /ə/ then /n/. - Dropping or softening the first syllable, turning /ˈvɪ/ into /vɪ/ or /və/. Keep the primary stress on the first syllable and ensure the /ɪ/ is crisp. - Failing to maintain connected speech; insert a vowel between /v/ and /ʒ/ or separate syllables; practice fluency with linking and reduction techniques to preserve the two-syllable rhythm. - Confusing with “vision” as in a medical device or prosthetic context when pronouncing the human sense of sight; emphasize the orginal /ʒ/ sound and context to stay accurate.
How to Pronounce Vision
"Her vision of a cleaner city inspired the new program."
"The company unveiled its vision for sustainable growth next decade."
"He spoke with a clear vision, outlining steps to achieve it."
Vision is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable: /ˈvɪʒən/ in US and UK variants. Break it into two sounds: /ˈvɪ/ as in “vivid” and /ʒən/ where the /ʒ/ is the French-like z-sound (as in “measure”) followed by a schwa + n. Mouth positions: start with a closed front vowel /ɪ/, then a voiced postalveolar fricative /ʒ/, then a relaxed schwa /ə/ and final /n/. Practicing slowly then increasing speed helps maintain the /ʒ/ clarity without turning to /z/.”,
Common mistakes include replacing /ʒ/ with /ʃ/ or /z/, making the second syllable too full with /iː/ or /ɪən/. Another error is misplacing stress, saying “VI-sion” with excessive emphasis on the second syllable. To correct: keep the first syllable strong, mouth relaxed for the /ʒ/ sound, and shorten the second syllable to a soft /ən/ (schwa + n). Practice with minimal pairs to anchor the /ʒ/ and ensure quick, casual final syllable articulation.
In US English, /ˈvɪʒən/ with a rhotic, light /r/-less ending and a clear /ʒ/. UK English often reduces to /ˈvɪʒ(ə)n/ with a slightly less rounded /ɔɪ/ influence, but still /ʒ/ remains. Australian tends toward /ˈvɪʒən/ with a very soft /ə/ in the second syllable and non-rhoticity similar to UK, but with a more clipped final /ən/. Across accents, the key is preserving the /ʒ/ sound and reducing the second syllable to a quick schwa+ n rather than a full vowel.
The challenge lies in producing the voiced postalveolar fricative /ʒ/ accurately, which is less common in English compared with /z/ or /ʃ/. If your mother tongue lacks /ʒ/, you may substitute with /ʒ/ equivalents like /ʑ/ or approximate with /ʃ/ or /z/. Stress on the first syllable combined with a reduced second syllable can also tilt toward “VI-sion” if you over-articulate the second vowel. Focusing on the precise mouth posture for /ʒ/ — tongue blade near the alveolar ridge, lips rounded slightly, and voiced vibration — helps stabilize the whole word.
A unique aspect of Vision is maintaining the /ʒ/ sound in the middle of the word while ensuring the final syllable remains light and unstressed. Many learners accidentally insert a vowel into the /ʒən/ cluster, saying /ˈvɪʒɪən/ or /ˈvɪzjən/. The recommended approach is to keep the middle consonant sound as a single, voiced /ʒ/ followed by a quick, neutral schwa before the final /n/. This creates the clean two-syllable rhythm of /ˈvɪʒən/.
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- US: Rhotic accent tends to keep /ɹ/ sound at the onset of the second syllable blending with /ən/; ensure /vɪ/ is crisp and the /ʒ/ is voiced and prominent. - UK: Slightly less vowel length, more centralized final syllable; keep /ʒ/ clear but the second syllable stays light, often reduced to /ən/. - AU: Similar to UK but with a more fronted /ɪ/ and slightly rounded lips for /ʒ/; often even more clipped final /ən/. Across all, the key is preserving /ʒ/ and a quick /ə/ before /n/. IPA references: US /ˈvɪʒən/, UK /ˈvɪʒ(ə)n/, AU /ˈvɪʒən/. - Mouth positions: /v/ – lower lip behind upper teeth; /ɪ/ – lax near-close; /ʒ/ – blade of tongue close to palate, voicing; /ə/ – relaxed mid-central; /n/ – tip to alveolar ridge.
Vision comes from the Latin visio, meaning ‘the act of seeing’ or ‘a sight’. Visio itself derives from videre, ‘to see’. In Latin, visio denoted a seeing, look, or sight, and over time the word migrated into Old French as vision, retaining the sense of sight or appearance. In English, vision broadened beyond physical sight to include mental images, foresight, and plans for the future. The term appears in Middle English and Early Modern English texts, often in religious or philosophical contexts, as in visions granted by God or future visions in strategic planning. Its semantic shift from merely the faculty of sight to an abstract concept of imagined possibilities reflects a broader cultural movement toward teleology and long-range thinking. By the 18th and 19th centuries, vision was common in science and business to describe goals and aspirations, not just sensory perception. Today, vision is used in medical, corporate, and creative discourse to discuss both literal sight and motivational aims. The word’s endurance in English reflects its rich capacity to bridge concrete observation with aspirational projection, making it a versatile term in both everyday conversation and formal rhetoric.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Vision" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Vision"
-ion sounds
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