How to pronounce coercion
Say it like koh-UR-shun. Coercion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (UR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce coercion. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- koh
- UR
- shun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Coercion pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- kohKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "o" in go.
- URSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- shunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of coercion
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
- The long o starts further forward in British English, closer to "uh-oo" than the American "oh".
British respelling: koh-UR-shun.
What does coercion mean?
- Actual or threatened force for the purpose of compelling action by another person; the act of coercing.
- Use of physical or moral force to compel a person to do something, or to abstain from doing something, thereby depriving that person of the exercise of free will.
- A specific instance of coercing.
Where does coercion come from?
Inherited from Middle English cohercioun, from Old French cohercion, from Latin coërcitiō (“magisterial coercion”), from past participle coercitus of coërceō (“to restrain, coerce”), from co- (“with”) + arceō (“to shut in, enclose”); see coerce.
Words that rhyme with coercion
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of coercion.
Questions about saying coercion
How do you pronounce coercion?
Say koh-UR-shun. The American pronunciation is /koʊˈɝʃən/. In British English it is /kəʊˈɜːʃən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in coercion?
Coercion has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (UR). Broken into parts: koh · UR · shun.
Is coercion pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /kəʊˈɜːʃən/ (koh-UR-shun).