-tion ending

Core Rule

The suffix -tion is a highly productive noun ending, mainly from Latin, expressing action, process, or result. In modern English, -tion is almost always pronounced /ʃən/, with stress on the preceding syllable.

Pronunciation Guide

Start with a light /t/ closure at the alveolar ridge, glide smoothly into /ʃ/ with slightly rounded lips and continuous airflow, then finish with a reduced /ən/. The sequence functions as a single unstressed syllable.

Word Analysis

nation, action, information all follow /ʃən/. Compare billion (/ˈbɪljən/), companionship (-ship noun), and differentiate (-iate verb) to see that not every -ion spelling signals the -tion sound.

Pitfall Alert

Do not confuse -tion with -sion or -cian; they may share pronunciation but differ in spelling logic and morphological origin.