4 syllables: In, ter, ne, cine. Stress on ter.
in-TUR-nuh-seen
/ˌɪˈntɝnəˌsin/
Internecine is pronounced in-TUR-nuh-seen (/ˌɪˈntɝnəˌsin/). It has four syllables (In-ter-ne-cine), with the stress on "ter". Internecine is an adjective (often used attributively) describing conflict within a group or organization that is mutually destructive. It refers to internal strife that harms all parties involved, rather than external warfare. Although historically more common in military contexts, it is now used across domains to critique internal political, ideological, or social battles.
nounInternecine is an adjective (often used attributively) describing conflict within a group or organization that is mutually destructive. It refers to internal strife that harms all parties involved, rather than external warfare. Although historically more common in military contexts, it is now used across domains to critique internal political, ideological, or social battles.
"The company's internecine power struggles weakened its ability to compete."
"A long history of internecine disputes left the party fractured and ineffective."
"Scholars warned against internecine clashes that could erode the university's mission."
Pronounce it as in-ter-NEE-seen, with the primary stress on the third syllable. For US English you can hear it as /ˌɪn.tɚˈnɛsiːn/; UK IPA is /ˌɪn.təˈnaɪsiːn/ and AU /ˌɪn.təˈniːsiːn/. The second vowel is a schwa or a reduced vowel in many accents, and the final -cene or -cein has a long -iːn sound. Practice by segmenting into syllables: in-ter-NEE-seen. Listen to reputable dictionaries to confirm the long final vowel.
Common errors: misplacing stress (putting it on the second syllable, IN-ter-NEE-seen), mispronouncing the middle vowel as /ə/ too long, or shortening the final /iːn/ to /ɪn/. Correction: stress the third syllable: in-ter-NEE-seen, use a clear /niː/ for the final syllable, and keep the /ɹ/ or rhoticity subtle or non-rhotic depending on your accent. Practice with slow segments to lock the long final vowel and the mid-ɔ/vowel shift if present in your accent.
US: rhotic /ɚ/ in the second syllable, heat on /ˈnɛsiːn/. UK: nonrhotic, broader /təˈnaɪsiːn/ or /ˌɪn.təˈnaɪ.siːn/. AU: often closer to /ˌɪn.təˈniːsiːn/ with less rhotic influence and clear long /iː/ in the final. The biggest difference is the middle vowel: US often has /ɚ/ or /ə/ depending on region; UK commonly uses a clearer /ə/ in the second syllable and a long 'ny' like /naɪ/ in some pronunciations. The final vowel tends to be long /iːn/ across the board. Listen to native samples for subtle shifts in the middle syllable.
The difficulty stems from its unusual cluster and vowel length in the final syllable, plus the shift in stress. Many speakers unconsciously place stress on the second syllable (in-ter-NEE-seen vs in-ter-ne-SEE-n), and the long final vowel /iːn/ can blur with a shorter /ɪn/. The mid vowel in the second syllable can be reduced in casual speech, making the word sound like in-TEHR-nee-seen or in-tuh-NEE-sin. Keep the third syllable prominent and end with a clear long /iːn/ for accuracy.
A distinctive aspect is that the root 'nec' relates to killing, yet the word describes internal violence within groups. A unique pronunciation note is the shift between /nɛs/ and /naɪs/ depending on whether you adopt US vs UK pronunciations, which can affect the perception of the middle vowel depending on the speaker’s regional vowel shift. The unique challenge here is maintaining the long final -een sound while ensuring the middle syllable doesn’t reduce into a schwa in rapid speech.
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Internecine derives from Late Latin internecīnus, from Latin intra- ‘within’ + necare ‘to kill’ (necare is the source of the English word necropolis via neco ‘to kill’). The form internecine appears in English around the 17th century, originally used in a military sense to describe killing within a group or army. Over time, its use broadened to other groups and organizations, preserving the sense of internal, mutually destructive conflict rather than external hostilities. The word’s pronunciation has retained the stress pattern on the third syllable in many modern uses (in-ter-NEE-ceen), though some speakers place stress on the second syllable in older or more formal pronunciations. First known usage citations appear in political discourse and military histories of Europe, reflecting its association with intra-group warfare and factional struggle. The word’s Latin roots emphasize the paradox of “within” and “killing,” capturing the essence of self-destructive internal conflicts that undermine collective goals.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Internecine" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Internecine"
-ine sounds
-me) sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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