2 syllables: con, demn. Stress on demn.
kuhn-DEM
/kəˈndɛm/
condemn is pronounced kuhn-DEM (/kəˈndɛm/). It has two syllables (con-demn), with the stress on "demn". Condemn means to express strong disapproval of something as wrong or evil, or to pronounce someone to be guilty or unfit for a position. It often carries moral or legal judgment and can be used in contexts ranging from moral critique to formal denunciation. The word implies a firm, public judgment rather than a casual disapproval.
Condemn means to express strong disapproval of something as wrong or evil, or to pronounce someone to be guilty or unfit for a position. It often carries moral or legal judgment and can be used in contexts ranging from moral critique to formal denunciation. The word implies a firm, public judgment rather than a casual disapproval.
- Commonly mispronounced as /ˈkɒndɛm/ or /ˈkɒndəm/ with stress on the first syllable; correct by placing primary stress on the second syllable: /kənˈdɛm/. - Final consonant: ensure the /n/ is not vocalized before /m/; if you insert an extra syllable, you’ll sound hesitant. Target /-dɛm/ followed immediately by /m/. - Vowel quality of the stressed syllable: avoid turning /ɛ/ into /æ/ or /eɪ/; keep it a short /ɛ/ as in 'bed'. - Runner tip: practice with quick, light tongue contact for /d/ and a clean transition to /ɛm/; avoid trailing the tongue and creating a lingering /t/ or /d/ sound.
"The council condemned the proposal as unsafe and impractical."
"She was condemned by critics for her stance on climate policy."
"The court condemned the defendant to five years in prison."
US/UK/AU pronunciation centers the syllable stress on the second syllable: /kənˈdɛm/ or /kənˈdem/. The initial syllable is unstressed and reduced to a schwa /kən/. The second syllable carries primary stress with a short, open front vowel /e/ as in 'bet' and a voiced /m/ at the end. Practically: 'kuhn-DEM' with a crisp /d/ and final /m/. Listen for the clear /d/ before the stressed vowel and avoid pronouncing the final nasal as an extra syllable.
Two frequent errors are pronouncing it as two equal syllables and misplacing the stress on the first syllable: /ˈkɒndɛm/ or /ˈkən-dɛm/. Another error is turning the final -n into an extra syllable or vocalizing the second syllable as /iː/ as in 'command' endings. Correction: keep unstressed first syllable as /kən/ and place primary stress on the second syllable /dɛm/, ending cleanly with /m/. Visualize it as kuh-DEM, with a sharp /d/ and a brief stop before the final /m/.
In US and UK accents, the second syllable is stressed: /kənˈdɛm/ or /kənˈdem/ with a short /e/. The final consonant is a voiced /m/. Australian speakers typically align with /kənˈdem/ but may have slightly higher vowel quality on the /e/ and less vowel reduction in the first syllable depending on speaker. Across dialects, the exact vowel length and quality can vary, but the stress pattern remains on the second syllable in standard varieties.
The challenge lies in the subtle vowel in the second syllable and the rapid, halting rhythm between the syllables. Many speakers reduce or merge the first syllable to /kən/ quickly, which can make the /d/ blend tight and the /m/ feel like a closing stop. Also, the /d/ followed by /ɛ/ can slip into a more open vowel in casual speech. Focusing on the crisp /d/ and keeping the /ɛm/ as a distinct, stressed nucleus helps clarity.
A unique point is the contrast between the unstressed first syllable /kən/ and the stressed second syllable /dɛm/. Unlike many English words with /d/ followed by a vowel, condemn keeps the /d/ as a clean stop before the short /e/ nucleus. Don’t overemphasize the first syllable; the emphasis should be on the second syllable, with a crisp /d/ and a brief /ɛm/ before the final /m/.
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- US: Non-rhotic tendencies are rare; ensure /r/ is not influencing; focus on a non-rhotic /ɹ/ on initial ши. US tends to crisp the /d/ and maintain a tight /m/ closure. - UK: Maintain clear vowel quality with more precise English /e/; avoid American flapping; retain non-rhotic placement; the second syllable should be clearly stressed with /dɛm/. - AU: Often similar to UK with a slightly more centralized vowel in the first syllable; maintain /kən/ before the stress and deliver /ˈdɛm/ distinctly. IPA references: US /kənˈdɛm/, UK /kənˈdem/, AU /kənˈdem/. - Key contrasts: rhoticity differences are less impactful here since condemnation is typically non-rhotic; focus on the exact /d/ + /ɛm/ sequence and final /m/ closure.
Condemn originates from the Latin verb condemno, condemnere, meaning to condemn, convict, or condemn as faulty. Condemno is formed from con- (with, thoroughly) and damnare (to condemn, to damn). The sense shift in English tracked from the late Middle Ages, where it primarily meant to sentence or to denounce publicly. By the 14th–15th centuries, condemn acquired legal overtones, especially in ecclesiastical and civil courts, aligning with ‘to pronounce judgment against someone.’ In modern usage it often conveys moral or social censure beyond formal conviction, while retaining forensic and religious nuances. The pronunciation evolved with English vowels and stress patterns; the current form reflects the influence of French and Latin roots, with the final -n pronounced and the first syllable stressed in most varieties.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "condemn" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "condemn"
-aim sounds
-ain sounds
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