Io
From Teflpedia
The sequence "io" normally is part of two syllables (as in "sociology") or the "i" modifies the sound of the previous letter as in "action". This page sets out some words teachers can use to help their students become more aware of how they can sound out more correctly the different sounds corresponding to words containing "io".
Modified "c", "s", "t" + "io"[edit | edit source]
The letters "c", "s" and "t" often change their sound when followed by an "i".
- "cio" as /ʃə/: suspicion
- "cio" as /ʃə/ or /ʒə/AmE: coercion
- "sio"
- as /ʒə/: conclusion, confusion, decision, division, explosion, occasion, occasional, precision, provision, television, vision, visionary
- as /ʃə/: compulsion, extension, pension, propulsion, revulsion, tension, torsion
- "ssio" as /ʃə/: admission, aggression, compassion, compassionate, confession, depression, discussion, mission, missionary, profession
- "tio"
- as /ʃə/: action, addition, additional, condition, education, function, functional, information, nation, organization, position, relation, situation, tradition, traditional
- as /ʃə/ or /ʃ/: national
- as /tʃə/: question, suggestion
- as /ʃə/ or /tʃə/: attention, intention, mention
- as /ʒə/: equation
- as /ʃiːəʊ/: ratio
Unmodified "c", "s", "t" + "io"[edit | edit source]
- "cio" as /siːəʊ/: nuncio, sociocultural
- "cio" as /siːɒ/: sociology
- "cio" as /siːə/: sociological
- "sio" as /ziːəʊ/: physiotherapy
- "sio" as /ziːɒ/: anaesthesiology,BrE anesthesiology,AmE physiology
- "tio" as /tiːə/: bastion
Two syllables[edit | edit source]
- /aɪɒ/: biology
- /aɪɒ,BrE aɪɔːAmE/: priority
- /aɪəʊ/: Ohio
- /aɪə/: Iowa, lion, prior, violence
- /iːəʊ/: cardio, cardiovascular, Ethiopia, studio
- /iːɒ/: cardiology
- /iːə/: champion, criterion, interior, period, radio, senior, union
One syllable[edit | edit source]
Variant pronunciations[edit | edit source]
- /ʃiːɒ, siːɒ/: glaciology
"ious"[edit | edit source]
- "ious" as /iːəs/: curious, obvious, previous, serious, various
- "ious" as /əs/: anxious, religious
- "cious" as /ʃəs/: atrocious, audacious, auspicious, conscious, delicious, malicious, precious, suspicious