3 syllables: Con, stan, cy. Stress on Con.
KAHN-stuhn-see
/ˈkɑnstənsi/
Constancy is pronounced KAHN-stuhn-see (/ˈkɑnstənsi/). It has three syllables (Con-stan-cy), with the stress on "Con". Constancy refers to the quality of being unchanging in nature, value, or extent. It denotes reliability, steadiness, and unwavering persistence. In usage, it often highlights consistency of behavior, belief, or performance, even under pressure. The term is common in formal, literary, and psychological contexts to praise steadfastness.
nounConstancy refers to the quality of being unchanging in nature, value, or extent. It denotes reliability, steadiness, and unwavering persistence. In usage, it often highlights consistency of behavior, belief, or performance, even under pressure. The term is common in formal, literary, and psychological contexts to praise steadfastness.
- You: You’ll often mis-handle the middle syllable, either over-suppressing it into a muffled /ən/ or over-pronouncing it as /ənsi/; target a light, centralized /ən/ with a quick transition from /n/ to /st/. - Replace a drawn-out ending: don’t stretch /si/ into a prolonged /siː/ in slow speech; keep it short and crisp like /si/.
"Her constancy in studying earned her top grades."
"The researcher admired the constancy of the data across trials."
"Despite interruptions, his constancy of purpose never wavered."
It is pronounced /ˈkɒn.stən.si/ in UK and AU, and /ˈkɑːn.stən.si/ in many US dialects for the first syllable, with a stress on the first syllable. Break it into con-stan-cy, with a short “o” or open back vowel in the first syllable, a schwa-less middle -stan- and a light, crisp -cy ending like /si/. Rhythm is strong-weak-weak. Audio examples: Cambridge and Forvo entries can be used for listening reference.
Common errors include misplacing stress (starting with a weaker first syllable: con-STAN-cy instead of CON-stan-cy), over-pronouncing the middle syllable as /ˈkɒn.sən.si/ with an unstressed schwa or a raised vowel, and pronouncing the ending as /-tˈsi/ or /-sɪ/ inconsistently. Correct by keeping middle syllable unstressed and crisp, ensuring /ˈkɒn/ or /ˈkɑːn/ has a short, open vowel, the /stən/ sequence with a light, reduced vowel, and the final /si/ clearly as /si/.
In US: stress on the first syllable with /ˈkɑːn/ or /ˈkɒn/ depending on vowel tuning, middle /stən/ with a reduced vowel, ending /si/ as clear /si/. In UK: /ˈkɒn.stən.si/, with a shorter, tenser /ɒ/ in first syllable and less vowel length in the final /i/. In AU: often closer to UK acoustics, with a non-rhotic tendency; final /si/ remains /si/, but linked to following sounds more smoothly.
Because of the three-syllable structure with a stressed first syllable and a light, unstressed middle sequence, the -stan- portion sits between a shallow vowel and a palatal-like ending. The crux is keeping a tight, quick transition from /ˈkɒn/ to /stən/ and preserving a crisp /si/ ending without adding vowel length. Practicing with minimal pairs and slow tempo helps ensure accurate stress, rhythm, and syllable timing.
Yes. The st cluster sits immediately after a stressed sonority on the first syllable. You should avoid inserting a vowel between /n/ and /s/; keep /n/ released before /st/ and let the /t/ be lightly aspirated. This reduces a tendency to blend into the following /ən/.
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- US: try to maintain rhotic-less first syllable with a strong /ɑː/ or /ɒ/ as allowed by the speaker’s dialect; keep the middle /ən/ reduced. - UK: shorter first vowel; preserve a clipped /stən/ and a clear final /si/; avoid vowel lengthening in the final syllable. - AU: similar to UK, non-rhotic tendencies; ensure final /si/ is crisp; vowels may be slightly more centralized.
Constancy comes from the Latin constans, constant- (from the verb constare, meaning to stand firm, endure) fused with -cy to form a noun meaning the quality or state of being constant. The word travels through Old French as constance before entering English in the late medieval period. Its semantic core has long been linked to steadfastness and unchanging nature, evolving from a physical sense of standing firmly to a moral and behavioral sense of steadiness. In early usage, constancy emphasized unyielding adherence or persistence; by the 17th-18th centuries, it broadened to denote regularity in behavior, belief, or commitment. Writers used constancy to praise or critique persistence in various domains, from religious devotion to scientific method. Today, constancy remains a formal, somewhat elevated term, often employed in psychology, philosophy, and ethical discussions to describe reliability and unwavering focus over time.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Constancy" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Constancy" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Constancy"
-ncy sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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