2 syllables: con, dense. Stress on dense.
kuhn-DENS
/kəˈndɛns/
condense is pronounced kuhn-DENS (/kəˈndɛns/). It has two syllables (con-dense), with the stress on "dense". Condense means to make something more compact or concentrated by reducing its volume or adopting a shorter, more concise form. In science and writing, it often refers to converting a substance from a gas to a liquid, or summarizing a larger body of information into a shorter version. The term emphasizes efficiency and clarity through reduction of extraneous detail.
Condense means to make something more compact or concentrated by reducing its volume or adopting a shorter, more concise form. In science and writing, it often refers to converting a substance from a gas to a liquid, or summarizing a larger body of information into a shorter version. The term emphasizes efficiency and clarity through reduction of extraneous detail.
"The scientist will condense the vapor into a liquid using a cooling coil."
"Please condense your lengthy report into a one-page executive summary."
"The novel's themes condense into a powerful message about resilience."
You say con-DENSE, with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK AU kənˈdens. Begin with the /k/ release, then a schwa /ə/ in the first syllable, followed by /n/ and the stressed /ˈdens/ sounds. Keep the consonant sequence tight and avoid vocalic elongation in the first syllable. For a quick reference, think: kuhN-DENS.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying con-DENSE with incorrect syllable emphasis. (2) Overpronouncing the first vowel, making it sound like /o/ instead of the neutral schwa /ə/. (3) Final consonant blending, pronouncing /d/ and /s/ separately too aggressively. Correction tips: keep the first syllable relaxed with /ə/; produce /n/ immediately before the stressed /dens/; end with a clear /s/ without a trailing vowel. Practice: kəN-DENS.
In US English you’ll hear /kənˈdens/ with rhoticity subtly shaping the /r/ sound influence only if followed by a vowel; here the /r/ is not present in this word. In UK English, /kənˈdens/ is similar, but vowel quality tends toward a less central /ə/ and a crisper /d/ release. Australian tends to be similar to UK/US but with slight vowel widening and a flatter /eɪ/ seldom; the final /s/ is crisp. Overall, pronunciation is largely the same across regions, with minor vowel quality differences.
The challenge lies in transitioning from a weak initial schwa to a strong, high-front rhotic-averse onset? Actually, the key is correctly timing the /n/ before the stressed /dens/ and maintaining a short, neutral vowel in the first syllable. The /d/ is a voiced stop before the /e/ vowel, so you want a clean, quick release. Avoid adding extra vowel length in the first syllable and keep the final /s/ voiceless. IPA cues: /kənˈdens/.
A distinctive feature is the clear split between the unstressed /kən/ and the strongly stressed /ˈdens/. When people search, they often type 'condense pronunciation' and expect guidance on the /ə/ vs /ɒ/ or /oʊ/ illusions; here the relevant detail is that the first syllable uses /ə/ (schwa) and the second syllable uses /dens/ with a strong /d/ + /ɛ/ + /n/ + /s/ sequence. This specific pattern helps distinguish condense from similar terms like 'condense' used in chemistry.
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- US: /kənˈdens/ with a slightly longer front vowel and a crisp /d/ release; rhotic influence is minimal here unless next word starts with a vowel, then you may link slightly. - UK: /kənˈdens/ with a similarly short /ə/; the /d/ and /s/ are crisp, and vowel quality on /ə/ may be a touch more centralized. - AU: /kənˈdens/ like UK/US but can have a broader vowel quality in /ə/. Expect a more relaxed mouth posture, especially in casual speech. - Key vowel: the stressed /ˈdens/ uses /e/ as in “bet” or “men.” Keep it pure; avoid a diphthong that slides to /iː/.
Condense comes from Latin condensare, meaning to make thick or dense, from con- (together) + densare (to make thick), derivative of densus (dense). The Latin root dens- conveys “thick” or “packed.” Middle English adopted condensen and later condense, aligning with both the abstract metaphor of making writing or ideas denser, and the physical sense of transforming gases to liquids or more compact states. The dual meanings—concentration (in writing or information) and physical condensation (as in physics or chemistry)—emerged over medieval and early modern scientific discourses, where the idea of reducing volume while preserving essential content or properties became a standard conceptual metaphor. First known uses in English appear in scientific and philosophical texts of the 16th to 18th centuries, with later expansion into general usage as print media and education emphasized concise communication.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "condense" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "condense" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "condense"
-nse sounds
-nce sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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