3 syllables: Di, men, sion. Stress on men.
dim-EN-shuhn
/dɪˈmɛnʃən/
Dimension is pronounced dim-EN-shuhn (/dɪˈmɛnʃən/). It has three syllables (Di-men-sion), with the stress on "men". A dimension is a measurable extent or aspect of a subject or object, especially one that is used to define its size, shape, or scope. In mathematics and physics, dimensions indicate independent directions in which movement or measurement is possible. It also can refer to a particular facet or component of a broader concept.
nounA dimension is a measurable extent or aspect of a subject or object, especially one that is used to define its size, shape, or scope. In mathematics and physics, dimensions indicate independent directions in which movement or measurement is possible. It also can refer to a particular facet or component of a broader concept.
- You often misplace the stress on the first syllable (DIM-en-sion) or reduce the middle vowel too much, making it sound like ‘dim-uh-nun’. To fix, practice di-MEN-sion with a clear /mɛn/ and keep the final /ʃən/ light and unstressed. - Some speakers over-articulate the final -sion, saying /-zɪən/ or /-sɪən/. Aim for /-ʃən/ (like ‘shun’). - Don’t rush. A common error is gliding from /dɪ/ directly to /mɛn/ without a natural pause or a slight separation. Use a tiny syllable break to anchor the stress and rhythm. - In connected speech, people may insert extra vowels: /dɪˈmɛnʃən/ + slight schwa. Keep it compact: dɪˈmɛnʃən. - If your tongue flattens the /n/ before /ʃ/, you’ll merge sounds; keep a light nasal release before the /ʃ/.
"The lab must consider all dimensions of the problem, including time and probability."
"In a 3D model, you have length, width, and height as three spatial dimensions."
"The film explores a new dimension of virtual reality."
You pronounce it as dɪ-ˈmɛn-ʃən with the primary stress on the second syllable. In IPA: US = dɪˈmɛnʃən, UK = dɪˈmenʃən, AU = dɪˈmenʃən. Start with a quick, light 'd' + short 'i' as in 'dip', then the stressed 'MEN' with an open-mid vowel, and end with a softened 'shən'.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (DIM-en-sion) instead of the second (di-MEN-sion), and pronouncing it as 'dim-en-suhn' with a reduced middle vowel. Another frequent slip is turning the final ‘-sion’ into a hard ‘z’ sound or exaggerating the ’sh’ as in ‘dish’. Correction: place primary stress on -MEN-, use a clear /mɛn/ vowel, and keep the final -ʃən as a light, unstressed schwa+n.” ,
In US and UK, the middle vowel is the same /mɛn/. US tends to a slightly tighter /ən/ ending, UK may sound a touch crisper with a shorter final syllable. Australian pronunciation is similar to UK but often features a more centralized vowel in the second syllable and a softer /ʃən/. Overall, the rhythm remains di-MEN-shən across accents.
The difficulty lies in the multisyllabic structure with three syllables and the affricate /d/ followed by a stressed /ˈmɛn/ and a final /ʃən/. The sequence of a light initial consonant, a stressed mid-vowel, and a reduced ending requires precise vowel placement and timing. Subtle distinctions between /mɛn/ and /men/ or /mən/ can alter intelligibility in connected speech.
Dimension includes a light, unstressed final syllable -sion pronounced as /ʃən/. The second syllable carries the primary stress, so you should elevate /mɛn/ without changing the quality of the preceding /dɪ/. Also, ensure the alveolar /d/ is released, not reduced, to avoid blends with the next vowel in quick speech.
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Dimension comes from the Latin dimetio/dimensio via the medieval Latin dimensio, from the verb dimetiri meaning ‘to measure out’ (from dis- ‘apart’ + metiri ‘to measure’). The term entered English in the 14th century with senses tied to measurement and extent. In geometry and mathematics, dimension matured to denote independent directions in space (length, breadth, height) and later to more abstract notions like dimensions in vector spaces or data sets. The word increasingly covered figurative senses, where dimension means an aspect or feature of something, such as a dimension of personality or a dimension in a problem. Over time, disciplines from physics to philosophy adopted the term to discuss independent components, directions, or parameters within a system. The evolution reflects a shift from concrete measurement to abstract structural analysis, while retaining the core sense of a measure, extent, or direction. The earliest known English usage appears in scholastic and scientific texts of the late Middle Ages, aligning with Latin roots and the growing interest in geometry and measurement.
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Words that rhyme with "Dimension"
-ion sounds
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