sion ending
Rule Core
The -sion ending typically forms nouns and is pronounced /ʒən/ or /ʃən/. After a vowel or voiced sound, it usually becomes /ʒən/; after a voiceless consonant, /ʃən/. The letter s no longer sounds like /s/.
Articulation Guide
For /ʒən/, place the tongue near the alveolar ridge with voicing; for /ʃən/, keep the same tongue position but remove voicing and increase airflow. The final -on reduces to /ən/.
Word Analysis
allusion /əˈluːʒən/: voiced environment triggers /ʒ/. aversion /əˈvɜːrʒən/: r-colored vowel keeps the sound voiced. commercial /kəˈmɜːrʃəl/: spelled -cial but shares the /ʃ/ family.
Pitfalls
Avoid reading the s as /s/; do not confuse -sion with -tion or -cian.
Phonics Breakdown
Place the tongue near the alveolar ridge, choose voicing, then reduce -on to /ən/.
Sound Reference
- Check whether the preceding sound is voiced before choosing /ʒən/ or /ʃən/.
- Memorize -sion as a single reduced syllable.
Common Mistakes
Reading -sion as /sɪən/ or /saɪən/.
Forgetting the /ʒ/ option and using /ʃ/ only.
Example Words
All Words (31)
allusion aversion commercial commercialize commercially corrosion crucial decision division erosion intrusion judicial miserable plausible poisonous present presentation prisoner provincial quartz refusal russia specialization specialized superficial supervision susan transfusion treasure version vision