Words Ending in TION

TION — The Suffix Behind 2,376 English Nouns

Almost without exception, every word ending in TION is a noun, and almost every one is built from a verb you already know. ACT becomes ACTION, CREATE becomes CREATION, ABOLISH becomes ABOLITION. The Norman French brought this suffix to English after 1066, replacing the native Old English ending -ung in many constructions. Here's something that trips up even fluent English speakers: despite being spelled with a T, the TION combination is always pronounced "shun." That T-I pairing triggers a palatalization sound shift unique to English — the same reason NATION doesn't rhyme with STATION the way the spelling suggests it should.

In crossword puzzles, TION is one of the first endings to try when you've locked in a few trailing letters. The suffix is four letters long, which means a six-letter grid slot leaves you only two letters to figure out — and the answer is often a word you use daily. ACTION, LOTION, MOTION, NATION, NOTION, OPTION, POTION, RATION — all six letters, all common. Constructors use these constantly because TION creates predictable crossing patterns. For Scrabble, the real power play is extension: someone plays LOCATE and you build LOCATION downward, picking up the base word's points plus your own. That move alone can swing a game.

TION words share deep etymological roots with words ending in OR. Latin gave English both suffixes from the same verbs: EDIT produces both EDITOR and EDITION, DIRECT yields DIRECTOR and DIRECTION. Studying them side by side sharpens your instinct for both. Also explore words ending in ING — the other major verb-derived suffix — and words starting with A, which feeds a dense cluster of TION words like ADDITION, ATTRACTION, and ABOLITION. For a contrast in scale, see words ending in J, which covers just seven words total.

FAQ