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French -tion pronunciation: nation, question and portions

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Try eight questions on French -tion: /sjɔ̃/ in nation, /tjɔ̃/ in question, and the different pronunciations of portions as a noun and a verb.

In short

Many French nouns have -tion pronounced /sjɔ̃/, as in nation /nasjɔ̃/. In question /kɛstjɔ̃/, keep /t/ before /j/. Grammar matters too: les portions has /pɔʁsjɔ̃/, while nous portions, from porter, has /pɔʁtjɔ̃/.

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A traveller asking a hotel receptionist about a booking in a modest French hotel lobby, plain closed folder on the desk.
Ask une question sur ma réservation. Illustration: Atelier
Study first: a common pattern and two contrasts
Word or phrasePronunciationMeaning
la nation/nasjɔ̃/the nation
la réservation/ʁezɛʁvasjɔ̃/the booking
la question/kɛstjɔ̃/the question
la gestion/ʒɛstjɔ̃/management
les portions/le pɔʁsjɔ̃/the portions
nous portions/nu pɔʁtjɔ̃/we were carrying

In /sjɔ̃/, move from /s/ into the glide /j/, then the nasal vowel /ɔ̃/. The /j/ is like the start of English “yes”. Keep the ending together in one syllable. French nation has two syllables, /na.sjɔ̃/. Its ending differs from English “shun”.

J’ai une question sur ma réservation.

I have a question about my booking.

One sentence contains both patterns: /tjɔ̃/ in question and /sjɔ̃/ in réservation.

How do you pronounce -tion in French?

The verb is built from a stem and an ending
PresentStemImparfait
nous portonsport-nous portions

The verb porter keeps its stem consonant /t/ before -ions. The noun portion has /s/ instead. Read the words around the form: les portions étaient petites describes servings; nous portions des vêtements chauds describes what we wore.

  1. Question 1No account needed
    Choose the final sequence in nation.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    /sjɔ̃/. Nation follows the common French noun pattern: /na.sjɔ̃/.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    Which word keeps /t/ before /j/?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    question. Question is /kɛstjɔ̃/. It keeps /t/ before the glide.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    Choose the pronunciation of portions in this noun phrase.Les portions étaient petites.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    /pɔʁsjɔ̃/. The article les and adjective petites identify the noun portions, /pɔʁsjɔ̃/.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    Choose the pronunciation of the verb portions.Nous portions des vêtements chauds.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    /pɔʁtjɔ̃/. This is the imparfait of porter. Keep the stem’s /t/ before -ions.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    Which present-tense form gives the stem for nous portions?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    nous portons. Nous portons gives port-. Add -ions to form the imparfait.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    Choose the pronunciation of gestion.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    /ʒɛstjɔ̃/. Gestion, like question, keeps /t/ before the /j/ glide.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    How many syllables are in nation /nasjɔ̃/?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Two.. Divide it /na.sjɔ̃/. The /j/ glide stays with the following nasal vowel.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    Which sentence contains the verb form pronounced /pɔʁtjɔ̃/?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Nous portions les mêmes couleurs.. The subject nous identifies the verb porter in the imparfait. The other two sentences use the noun.

Say the two portions sentences once more after checking. Start with the meaning: servings on one side, carrying or wearing on the other. Then keep the corresponding consonant clear as you move into /jɔ̃/.

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