One syllable: Fence.
fens
/fɛns/
Fence is pronounced fens (/fɛns/). It has one syllable (Fence), with the stress on "Fence". Fence is a maleable barrier or railing that marks boundaries or enclosures. It can also function as a verb meaning to enclose with a fence. In everyday use, it denotes a partition or obstacle, ranging from a garden fence to a border fence, and often carries connotations of safety, privacy, or property delineation. The term appears in varied contexts from construction to sports metaphor.
nounFence is a maleable barrier or railing that marks boundaries or enclosures. It can also function as a verb meaning to enclose with a fence. In everyday use, it denotes a partition or obstacle, ranging from a garden fence to a border fence, and often carries connotations of safety, privacy, or property delineation. The term appears in varied contexts from construction to sports metaphor.
"The garden fence keeps the rabbits out and the cats in."
"They decided to fence off the area to create a private courtyard."
"The soccer goal was surrounded by a sturdy fence to prevent interruptions during practice."
Fence is a one-syllable word pronounced with the /f/ initial, short /e/ as in bet, and final /ns/. In IPA: US/UK/AU /fɛns/. The mouth starts with a light lip spread for /f/, then the tongue slightly raises for the /ɛ/ vowel, followed by an /n/ with the tongue touching the alveolar ridge, and closes with /s/.
Common errors include elongating the vowel to /eɪ/ as in ‘fence’ with a diphthong, or pronouncing it as /feːns/ with too much vowel length. Another mistake is turning the /n/ into a syllabic consonant or misplacing the tongue for /s/. Correct by keeping a short /ɛ/ and ensuring the /f/ and /n/ are cleanly released before /s/. NPR-style crisp release helps clarity.
In US/UK/AU there is little vowel shift in /ɛ/, but rhotic influence can affect surrounding sounds in connected speech. The /f/ and /n/ remain labiodental and alveolar respectively. In rapid UK speech, you may hear a slightly tenser /ɛ/ and crisper /s/. Australian speakers often exhibit a lighter, more centralized /ɛ/ with subtly broader mouth opening before the /n/. Overall, the core /fɛns/ remains consistent, with minor vowel quality changes across accents.
The challenge lies in the quick transition from the voiceless /f/ to the alveolar nasal /n/ and then into the /s/ without a vowel between them, which creates a tight consonant cluster /f-n-s/. Keeping the short /ɛ/ central and preventing a vowel intrusion is key. Additionally, some speakers misplace the tongue for /f/ and/or /s/, causing a blurred boundary between sounds. Focused practice on the /f/ + /ɛ/ + /n/ + /s/ sequence helps.
Some learners wonder whether you should nasalize the /n/ or voice the final /s/. The correct approach for standard pronunciation is a clear, unreleased or lightly released /n/ preceding an /s/ with no extra vowel: fɛns. Maintain a crisp edge to /f/ and ensure the /s/ is not devoiced or merged with the /n/. This precise sequence is what makes the word sound correct in fluent speech.
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The word fence originates from Middle English fense, from Old French defense, itself from Latin defendere ‘to ward off, defend’, composed of de- ‘away, off’ + defendere ‘to defend’. In Middle English, fence referred to a defense or protection and later narrowed to a barrier intended to enclose or separate. The shift from general defense to a physical barrier occurred in the medieval period as enclosures and palisades became common in settlements and estates. By the 14th century, fence was used to describe both defensive structures and limits in landholding disputes. The verb form ‘to fence’ emerged with the sense of establishing boundaries, or to surround as with a fence. Modern usage broadens to sport-related terms (fencing) and metaphorical uses (to fence in options). First known written uses appear in legal and property texts from the 13th–14th centuries in English-speaking Europe, aligning with the rise of fenced estates and property delineation. Over time, the word retained the core notion of enclosing, delimiting, or protecting space, while specialized senses (e.g., sports fencing) later emerged as distinct words with shared etymological roots.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
Help others use "Fence" correctly by contributing grammar tips, common mistakes, and context guidance.
💡 These words have similar meanings to "Fence" and can often be used interchangeably.
🔄 These words have opposite meanings to "Fence" and show contrast in usage.
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Words that rhyme with "Fence"
-nt) sounds
-nce sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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