4 syllables: Con, se, quen, ces. Stress on Con.
KAHN-suh-kwen-suhz
/ˈkɑnsəˌkwɛnsəz/
Consequences is pronounced KAHN-suh-kwen-suhz (/ˈkɑnsəˌkwɛnsəz/). It has four syllables (Con-se-quen-ces), with the stress on "Con". Consequences refers to the outcomes or results that follow from a particular action or event, often implying a causal chain with potential harm or benefit. It can denote both positive and negative future effects, especially when actions are weighed against their long-term implications. In context, it emphasizes the practical impact rather than abstract theory, highlighting what happens next as a consequence of prior choices.
nounConsequences refers to the outcomes or results that follow from a particular action or event, often implying a causal chain with potential harm or benefit. It can denote both positive and negative future effects, especially when actions are weighed against their long-term implications. In context, it emphasizes the practical impact rather than abstract theory, highlighting what happens next as a consequence of prior choices.
"The company faced severe consequences after the data breach."
"Ignoring the warning signs could have serious financial consequences."
"She considered the social consequences before speaking out."
Pronounced /ˈkɒnsɪˌkwɛnsɪz/ in UK; /kənˈsɛkwənsɪz/ or /ˈkɑːnsɪˌkwɛnsɪz/ in US commonly. Stress pattern is primary on the first syllable (con-) and secondary on -se- of the third syllable: con-SER-qua or con-SIQ-? Wait: actual: con-SKWEH-nsez? Let's provide a precise: The standard is /ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwən.sɪz/ in careful speech; many US speakers reduce to /kənˈsɛkwənsɪz/. Break it as con- SE- quences with a subtle secondary stress on the -SE- syllable. Mouth positions: start with a light k+ɒ/ɔ, then nasal n, then sɪ as s and short i, then kwən as k w ə n, and zɪz ending with z. Audio reference: check Pronounce or Cambridge audio.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress by overemphasizing the first syllable or flattening the rhythm, (2) pronouncing the sequence as ‘con-SE-kwences’ with an extra syllable or wrong vowel in the third/ fourth syllable, (3) omitting the /kw/ cluster or turning it into /k/ or /w/ alone. Correction: maintain primary stress on the first syllable and ensure the /kw/ blends smoothly: con-SKWEHN-siz with clear /kw/ and final /z/ sound. Practice with minimal pairs and slow repetition to lock the rhythm.
In US English you’ll hear /kənˈsɛkwən(sɪ)z/, with a rhoteless or rhotic variation depending on region; UK tends to /ˈkɒnsɪkwənsɪz/ or /kɒnˈsiːkwən(t)sɪz/ with less pronounced /r/ influence and more vowel rounding; Australian often aligns near US but with shorter vowels and less pronounced /ɪ/ in unstressed positions, yielding /kənˈsɛkwənsɪz/ or /ˈkɒnsɪkwənsiːz/. Always keep the /kw/ cluster tight. IPA guides help.
The difficulty stems from the three-syllable rhythm with a strong first stress, plus the /kw/ consonant cluster that follows a short vowel in the second syllable. The transition from the /s/ to /kw/ requires precise tongue positioning (apical/dorsal combination) and lip rounding. In some dialects the vowel in the second syllable reduces, which can blur the syllable boundary. Practice the sequence con- S- kwən- siz with steady tempo and a tiny pause before -kw- to anchor the cluster.
A unique aspect is the secondary stress tendency on the -SE- portion in careful speech, yielding a subtle rhythm that signals emphasis beyond the first syllable. Additionally, the /kw/ consonant cluster is not common in simple nouns and requires deliberate linking to adjacent vowels in fluent speech. Focusing on the boundary between /n/ and /s/ in the middle helps maintain clarity and prevents slurring through the /kw/ cluster.
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The word consequences comes from the Latin fragment-consequent-, which is built on the verb consequī (to follow) from con- (with, together) and sequī (to follow). The English adoption formed the noun “consequence” in the late Middle English period, evolving to the plural “consequences.” The idea centered on what follows as a natural result of preceding actions. Over time, the term broadened from a strictly logical or mathematical follow-on to include consequences in moral, social, legal, and practical domains. Early usage often tied consequences to causation in philosophy and law, later expanding to everyday language to describe outcomes of decisions, events, or policies. The plural form emphasizes multiple possible outcomes and their varying significance, consequences often carrying an evaluative or warning tone, especially in discussions of risk and responsibility. Historically, the semantic shift allowed “consequences” to denote not only inevitable results but the perceived severity or importance of those results, contributing to its frequent use in cautionary statements and persuasive discourse.
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Words that rhyme with "Consequences"
-ces sounds
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