4 syllables: Con, do, len, ces. Stress on do.
kuhn-DOH-luhn-suhz
/kəˈndoʊlənsəz/
Condolences is pronounced kuhn-DOH-luhn-suhz (/kəˈndoʊlənsəz/). It has four syllables (Con-do-len-ces), with the stress on "do". Condolences is a noun expressing sympathy and sorrow offered to someone mourning a death. It refers to the act or expression of commiseration and condoling, often conveyed in words, cards, or gestures, to acknowledge a loss and comfort the bereaved. The term often appears in phrases like 'my condolences' or 'please accept my condolences.'.
nounCondolences is a noun expressing sympathy and sorrow offered to someone mourning a death. It refers to the act or expression of commiseration and condoling, often conveyed in words, cards, or gestures, to acknowledge a loss and comfort the bereaved. The term often appears in phrases like 'my condolences' or 'please accept my condolences.'
How to Pronounce Condolences
"I sent my condolences to the family after the funeral."
"Please accept my condolences on the loss of your father."
"We extend our condolences and wish you strength in this difficult time."
Pronounce as kən-DOL-ən-siz. IPA US/UK: /kənˈdoʊlənsɪz/ (US) and /kɒnˈdɒlənsiːz/ (UK approximate). The primary stress is on the second syllable ‘DOL.’ Start with a schwa in the first syllable, then a clear ‘dole’ syllable, followed by schwa, then pluralized 'siz' ending. Tip: enunciate the long O in DOLE and finish with 'nsɪz' rather than a hard 'z' alone.
Common errors: misplacing stress (placing it on the first syllable as con-DO-lences), pronouncing the second syllable as ‘dull’ (instead of ‘dol’ with long o), and dropping the final -es sound (condolenc-es vs condolences). Correction: keep stress on the second syllable: kən-DOH-lən-sɪz, ensure the '-dol' has a clear long O, not a short vowel, and articulate the final -ɪz or -s as a light, plural ending.
In US English, /kənˈdoʊlənsɪz/ with a rhotic r-lessness not relevant here; the second syllable features a clear long O. UK English tends toward /kɒnˈdɒlənsiːz/ with a shorter first vowel and a more compact 'lən' sequence; the final is often unstressed '-siz' but sometimes more elongated '-siːz' in careful speech. Australian tends to /kənˈdɒlənsiːz/ (like UK) but with slightly wider vowel articulation and subtle r-coloring in connected speech. Overall, stress remains on the second syllable in all: DOLE.
The difficulty lies in the multi-syllabic rhythm with secondary stress and the long O in the 'dole' segment, plus the final voiced-voiceless transition in -nsɪz. The sequence /ˈdoʊl/ requires a tense, rounded vowel; the following /ən/ is a schwa. The consonant cluster -lən- can trip some speakers, and the trailing /zɪz/ (or /sɪz/) demands a soft, quick -z sound after a short vowel. Practice by isolating /doʊl/ then gently attaching -ən-sɪz.
A distinctive feature is the primary stress on the second syllable DOLE: con-DOL-ən-ses, with the 'e' of the second syllable silent in practical speech, and the ending pronounced as -ən-sɪz or -ən-səz in natural speech. The -l- is light but clear, and the final -ses is pronounced as an extra syllable in many accents, not fully silent. Understanding the rhythm and keeping the long O in 'dole' is key.
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Condolences comes from the French word condoleance, derived from late Latin condolentia, itself from con- ‘with, together’ + dolēre ‘to grieve, feel pain.’ The English adoption appears in the 15th–16th centuries, initially in religious or ceremonial contexts, connected to expressing shared sorrow. Over time, the noun condensed to the modern form condolence/condolences, with pluralized usage reflecting multiple expressions of sympathy. The root dol- relates to pain or sorrow, appearing in words like doleful and condolences. The sense broadened from a literal act of comforting to an abstract expression of sympathy toward bereaved individuals. (200-300 words)
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Words that rhyme with "Condolences"
-nce sounds
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