Words ending in -sion

television, decision, explosion… Say /ʒən/, not “sion”!

1Listen and repeat

After a vowel, -sion sounds /ʒən/: the /ʒ/ of “usually” (or of the French “je”), then a tiny /ə/. Decision is “di-si-zhun”. (After a consonant, it sounds /ʃən/: tension, mansion.)

    2Find the stressed syllable

    Listen to each word and click the syllable that is louder and longer.

    The rule: The stress is on the syllable just before -sion: colLIsion, exPLOsion, disilLUsion. One exception in British English: TElevision!

    3Listen and write

    Listen and type the word you hear, then press Enter or click Check.