How to Pronounce “cognition”

American (US)

/kɔɡˈnɪʃ.ən/

British (UK)

/kɒɡˈnɪʃ.ən/

Australian (AU)

/koɡˈnɪʃ.ən/

noun — The process of knowing, of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought and through the senses.

Example: human cognition.

Where the stress falls. “cognition” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /kɔɡˈnɪʃ.ən/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /kɔɡˈnɪʃ.ən/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "cognition" mean?

cognition (noun): The process of knowing, of acquiring knowledge and understanding through thought and through the senses. For example — human cognition.

How do you pronounce "cognition" in American vs British English?

American English: /kɔɡˈnɪʃ.ən/. British English: /kɒɡˈnɪʃ.ən/. Play both on this page to hear the difference.

What is the IPA transcription of "cognition"?

/kɔɡˈnɪʃ.ən/ in American English, /kɒɡˈnɪʃ.ən/ in British English, /koɡˈnɪʃ.ən/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "cognition"?

“cognition” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /kɔɡˈnɪʃ.ən/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.