3 syllables: de, pend, ence. Stress on pend.
/dɪˈpɛndəns/
Say it backDependence refers to a state of relying on or needing something or someone, often to an extent that limits autonomy. It can describe psychological or functional reliance, or a legal or economic dependence on another entity. The term emphasizes a mutual or imposed reliance that influences behavior, decision-making, or welfare.
"Her dependence on caffeine started affecting her sleep."
"Many countries have a dependence on imported energy.”"
"The medicine reduces symptoms but increases dependence over time."
You say /dɪˈpendəns/ in both US and UK English, with the stress on the second syllable: de-PEN-dence. In American English the final syllable ends with /-əns/ and an audible /n/ before the /s/. UK pronunciation is similar but can have a slightly more pronounced schwa in unstressed syllables; the overall pattern remains /dɪˈpendəns/. For reference, try a slow articulation: /dɪ/ + /ˈpen/ + /dən(s)/.
Common errors include misplacing the stress (saying de-PEN-dence with wrong rhythm) and merging the second and third syllables into a blur, resulting in /dɪˈpɛndəns/ or /dɪˈpɛnˌdəns/. Another pitfall is pronouncing the ending as /-s/ with extra aspiration or turning /ə/ into a full vowel. Correction: practice the strong second-syllable stress /ˈpen/ and keep the ending crisp as /dəns/. Ensure the first syllable remains /dɪ/ and the second syllable carry the main emphasis.
US: /dɪˈpendəns/ with rhoticity affecting only certain vowel qualities; the /r/ is not involved here. UK: /dɪˈpendəns/ similar, but slightly tighter vowels and a less rounded /ɜ/ in related words; both share the /-dəns/ ending. AU: /dɪˈpendəns/ like others but with potentially flatter intonation and a more clipped final /s/. The key is stress on the second syllable and a clear /ə/ in the unstressed third syllable across all three.
Two main challenges: the unstressed third syllable /-də-/ can become a reduced schwa that clashes with a crisp /n/ before the /s/ if spoken too quickly, and the charted stress on the second syllable demands a precise onset for /ˈpen/. Also, the sequence /dɪˈpen/ requires careful tongue positioning to avoid a flap or a glide misarticulation; keeping the /d/ and /p/ distinct helps maintain clarity in rapid speech.
Yes. It’s the stable secondary stress-free structure around /pen/ and the following /dəns/ sequence, where many learners mispronounce the /d/ and /n/ as a single nasal blend. Focus on a clean /d/ release, a short /ə/ before /ns/, and a crisp /s/ to prevent a trailing hiss. The word’s rhythm hinges on a strong secondary beat at /ˈpen/, which anchors the natural intonation in phrases.
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US: emphasize rhotic speaker habit; keep /ɪ/ in the first syllable and strong /ˈpen/; the /ə/ in the third syllable should be a weak central vowel, often transcribed as /ə/. UK: similar pattern but often crisper consonants; the /ɒ/ sound does not occur in dependence, but listeners may perceive a tighter /ə/; maintain non-rhoticity in connected speech but this word itself carries no /r/; /ˈdɪˈpen/ remains steady. AU: tends to be drawn-out vowels in calm speech, with a slightly flatter intonation; keep the same syllable stress pattern and ensure the /s/ is crisp. IPA guides: US /dɪˈpendəns/, UK /dɪˈpendəns/, AU /dɪˈpendəns/.
The word dependence comes from Middle French dependence, from Latin dependentia, from dependere meaning to hang from or be dependent. The Latin root de- meaning from or down, and pendere meaning to hang or weigh. The sense of dependence as reliance emerged in the late 16th century in English, shifting from physical hanging or tethering to figurative reliance on people, systems, or institutions. Over time, dependence broadened to include psychological and economic connotations, such as dependence on substances, technology, or government. The term is commonly used in medical, legal, and social science contexts, reflecting how individuals or groups rely on external agents for support or sustenance. First known uses were documented in English medical texts and philosophical treatises discussing moral and social obligations; by the 18th and 19th centuries, general usage expanded to everyday language, with modern usage spanning clinical diagnoses (dependence syndrome) to policy discussions about dependency ratios and welfare systems.
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Words that rhyme with "dependence"
-nce sounds
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