4 syllables: de, lin, quen, cy. Stress on lin.
/dɪˈlɪŋ.kwən.si/
Say it backDelinquency refers to wrongdoing or failure to comply with the law, often involving minor or first-time offenses. It can describe legal infractions, moral lapse, or neglected duties, typically implying a youthful or lesser degree of seriousness than a felony. In social science and law, it also denotes patterns of conduct that deviate from expected norms.
"The city's juvenile court tracks delinquency trends to inform prevention programs."
"A rising delinquency rate among youths prompted a new community outreach initiative."
"Experts linked school disengagement with later delinquency in some longitudinal studies."
Pronounce as de-LIN-kwen-cy with the primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US/UK/AU dɛlɪŋˈkwənsi. Start with /d/ then /ɛ/ in the first syllable, then the unstressed /lɪŋ/ cluster, followed by the stressed /ˈkwən/ and finish with /si/. Mouth: keep the lips relaxed, tip of tongue near the alveolar ridge for /d/ and /t/ like sounds, then raise the middle of the tongue for the /ɪŋ/ blend, rounded lips slightly for /kw/.”
Two frequent errors: 1) Misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable as de-LIN-qu... rather than de-LIN-quency—keep stress on the second. 2) Slurring the /kw/ into /k/ or /w/—ensure a clear /kw/ onset before /ənsi/. Another slip is pronouncing /dɛlɪŋˈkwɛnsi/ with an /e/ instead of /ə/ in the syllable before -cy; use a neutral schwa in /kwən/ to avoid an extra vowel in a fast utterance.
In US English you’ll hear /dɛlɪŋˈkwənsi/ with rhotic /r/ absent in the word itself but typical in surrounding speech; in UK English it remains /dɛlɪŋˈkwənsi/ with similar rhotic behavior since /r/ is non-rhotic. Australian speakers often retain a clear /ɹ/ in connected speech but may reduce the /ɪ/ to a near/ə sound in rapid speech, giving /ˈdɛlɪŋˈkwənsi/ with slightly flatter vowels. Core pattern remains de-LIN-kwen-cy; regional vowel quality affects /ɪ/ and /ə/ and the length of the nucleus.
The difficulty stems from the consonant cluster at the start of the stressed nucleus: the sequence /lɪŋ/ followed by /kw/ can be tricky to keep distinct in quick speech. Also, the unstressed second syllable /ɪŋ/ blends with the /kw/ onset, and the final /si/ must be crisp without dragging. Practice maintaining the schwa-like /ə/ in /kwən/ and avoid substituting /kwə/ with /kwa/ or /kun/.
No, delinquency is fully phonemic. All letters contribute to sounds: /d/ /ɛ/ /l/ /ɪ/ /ŋ/ /kw/ /ən/ /si/. The sequence /ən/ is a reduced vowel in the second-to-last syllable, but it’s not silent; treat it as a schwa-like nucleus to maintain natural rhythm. This isn’t a word with silent letters like some loanwords, so pacing the second syllable with a neutral vowel helps clarity.
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Delinquency comes from the French delinquant, meaning guilty, and the Latin delinquere, meaning to fail or abandon. The root delinqu- combines de- (from, away) + linquere (to leave, neglect), signaling a failure or neglect of one’s duties. The term entered English in the 14th–15th centuries and took on legal connotations by the 16th–18th centuries, especially in relation to offenses not requiring felony status. Over time, delinquency broadened to describe habitual misbehavior or minor offenses, beyond strictly legal contexts, and in criminology it evolved to denote patterns and risk factors rather than isolated acts. By the late 19th and 20th centuries, delinquency became a standard term in juvenile justice and social science, underpinning theories about socialization, peer influence, and structural risk factors. In contemporary usage, it can reference acts ranging from truancy to property offenses, frequently in relation to youth. The word’s flexibility reflects evolving legal, educational, and criminological perspectives on conduct that deviates from normative expectations.
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Words that rhyme with "delinquency"
-ncy sounds
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