-tion ending

Core Rule

-tion is a highly productive noun ending, mainly from Latin, expressing actions, processes, or results. When preceded by a stressed syllable, -tion is pronounced /ʃən/, not letter by letter.

Pronunciation Guide

Produce /ʃ/ with the tongue raised toward the post‑alveolar area and focused airflow, then relax quickly into a weak /ən/ with minimal jaw movement.

Word Analysis

• evolutionary: evolu-tion → stable /ʃən/ despite suffix expansion.
• exhibition: stress shifts earlier, but -tion remains reduced.
• nationalist: na-tion-al-ist, medial -tion still /ʃən/.

Pitfall Alert

Do not confuse -tion with similar endings like -sion or -cian; identical sounds do not imply identical spelling.