3 syllables: ab, sti, nence. Stress on ab.
AB-stuh-nuhns
/ˈæbstənəns/
abstinence is pronounced AB-stuh-nuhns (/ˈæbstənəns/). It has three syllables (ab-sti-nence), with the stress on "ab". Abstinence refers to voluntary restraint from a particular pleasure or from a certain activity, often for moral, religious, health, or personal reasons. It denotes a deliberate, temporary or ongoing cessation rather than prohibition, emphasizing self-control and discipline. In various contexts, abstinence can relate to diet, sexual activity, or the consumption of substances, and is typically discussed in terms of personal choice and boundary-setting.
Abstinence refers to voluntary restraint from a particular pleasure or from a certain activity, often for moral, religious, health, or personal reasons. It denotes a deliberate, temporary or ongoing cessation rather than prohibition, emphasizing self-control and discipline. In various contexts, abstinence can relate to diet, sexual activity, or the consumption of substances, and is typically discussed in terms of personal choice and boundary-setting.
"She observed a period of abstinence from alcohol during the month of January."
"Public health campaigns promote abstinence from smoking as a means to reduce cancer risk."
"Some couples choose abstinence as a way to focus on emotional connection before becoming sexually intimate."
Break it as ab-STI-nence, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US/UK/AU: æbˈstɪnəns. Say the first syllable quickly, then stress the second, easing into the unstressed final -nəns. Tip: ensure the /ɪ/ in /ˈstɪ/ is a short vowel, not a drawn-out sound; end with /nəns/ rather than /nɪns/.
Two frequent errors: 1) stressing the wrong syllable (uhb-STIN-ence instead of ab-STI-nence). 2) mispronouncing the /t/ as a dental or flap; keep a clear voiceless alveolar /t/. Correct by placing the tongue tip behind the upper front teeth for a clean /t/. Ensure the final -nence ends with a clear /ns/ cluster rather than a separate syllable. Practice the transition from /ˈstɪ/ to /nəns/ smoothly.
In US/UK/AU, the main variation is vowel quality in the /ɪ/ of /ˈstɪ/. US often has a shorter, tenser /ɪ/ with less diphthongization; UK may have a crisper /ɪ/ and slightly longer preceding syllable. AU tends toward non-rhoticity like UK, but vowel length is influenced by regional dialects; keep the /æ/ vs /ə/ patterns consistent with your target accent. Overall, the primary stress remains on the second syllable across all three, with minor rhotic differences affecting surrounding vowels.
Three main challenges: 1) The sequence /bst/ after a syllable vowel can trip learners—use a quick, clean transition from /b/ to /st/ without an intrusive vowel. 2) The /ɪ/ in /ˈstɪ/ is a short, clipped vowel; avoid elongating it. 3) The final /nəns/ blends /n/ and /s/ into a tight nasal+fricative cluster; practice the rapid /ns/ closure. IPA cues help shape the mouth: /æ/ then /b/ + /ˈstɪ/ + /nəns/.
The root is from Latin abstinere, but pronunciation remains regular in English; there are no silent letters in abstinence, and the 'b' after a vowel is pronounced. The stress remains on the second syllable; the 't' is a true /t/, not a softened or silent consonant. Focus on the /bst/ cluster and the /ən/ syllable. IPA: æbˈstɪnəns.
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US: rhoticity generally present; ensure /r/ accuracy in adjacent vowels if present in connected speech. UK: non-rhotic; vowel sounds may be a bit crisper; AU: similar to UK but with more varied vowel length; maintain the primary stress on the second syllable; keep /æ/ and /ɪ/ distinct. IPA references: /æbˈstɪnəns/ (US/UK/AU) with regional vowel shifts as above.
The word abstinence comes from Latin abstinentia, from abstinere, meaning ‘to hold back, keep away.’ Abstinere is formed from ab- ‘away, from’ + tenere ‘to hold.’ In Late Latin, abstinentia began to denote restraint or forbearance, especially with regard to diet or sexual activity. The term entered English in the 13th century, originally with a religious or ascetic sense, and gradually broadened to secular uses, including health-related and moral contexts. By the 19th and 20th centuries, abstinence had become a common term in discussions of temperance movements, medical guidance on smoking and alcohol, and sexual health education. Over time, its connotations shifted toward voluntary self-control rather than universal prohibition, reinforcing its emphasis on personal choice and boundary setting. Etymologically, abstinence aligns with other Romance-rooted terms like abstain and abstinent, sharing the core idea of refraining from action or indulgence. First known use in English can be traced to ecclesiastical or scholastic writings that mirrored Latin ecclesiastical language, with the term becoming more widespread in medical and social discourse in modern times.
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Words that rhyme with "abstinence"
-nce sounds
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