4 syllables: Rem, in, is, cence. Stress on is.
rem-uh-NIS-uhns
/ˌɹɛməˈnɪsəns/
Reminiscence is pronounced rem-uh-NIS-uhns (/ˌɹɛməˈnɪsəns/). It has four syllables (Rem-in-is-cence), with the stress on "is". Reminiscence is the act or process of recalling past experiences, events, or people with a nostalgic or reflective mood. It commonly refers to a remembered narrative or collection of memories that one reflects upon or shares. The term often connotes sentimentality and a thoughtful review of the past.
nounReminiscence is the act or process of recalling past experiences, events, or people with a nostalgic or reflective mood. It commonly refers to a remembered narrative or collection of memories that one reflects upon or shares. The term often connotes sentimentality and a thoughtful review of the past.
"She spoke with quiet reminiscence about her childhood summers by the sea."
"The memoir is filled with reminiscence, capturing moments that shaped his later beliefs."
"During the reunion, old friends exchanged reminiscences of their college days."
Pronounce as /ˌremɪˈnɪsəns/ in US and UK English, with three syllables in play: re-mi-NIS-sence. The primary stress lands on the third syllable, near the end, and the final '-cence' sounds like -nsəns, rhyming with 'happiness' without the -hap-. Start with /ˈrɛm/ then a light /ɪ/ and a strong /ˈnɪ/ followed by /səns/. For practice, say: re-mi-NI-sence. Audio examples available in standard dictionaries and pronunciation resources.
Common errors include misplacing stress (putting it on the second or first syllable, e.g., re-MI-nis-sence), pronouncing the middle vowel as a full /iː/ instead of /ɪ/, and softening the final -cence too much (saying -nsəns too quickly or as -nsiss). Correction: maintain primary stress on the third syllable, keep the /ɪ/ in the second syllable crisp, and articulate the /səns/ ending clearly with /s/ and /ə/ rather than a silent or blurred ending.
In US/UK/AU, the core pronunciation /ˌremɪˈnɪsəns/ is consistent, with minor rhotic differences. US speakers tend to have a slightly stronger rhotic quality on the /r/ and a flatter vowel in the first syllable. UK speakers preserve non-rhotic tendencies in some dialects, with a more clipped rhythm, but the word remains three syllables. Australian speakers usually align with /ˌremɪˈnɪsəns/ as well, occasionally with a slight vowel shift toward /ɪ/ or /ɛ/ depending on the speaker. Overall, rhoticity is less variable than vowel height in the stressed syllable.
The difficulty stems from the stress pattern and the cluster /mɪˈnɪsəns/. The main stress on the third syllable requires controlled pitch and timing, while the /ˈnɪ/ sequence followed by /səns/ can be tricky for non-native speakers to keep distinct. The ending -sence blends /s/ and /ns/ sounds rapidly, so speakers should emphasize the /s/ before the final /əns/. IPA guidance helps anchor mouth positions and prevents epenthesis or mispronunciation.
There are no silent letters in the standard pronunciation; all letters participate in the phonetic sequence: /ˌrɛmɪˈnɪsəns/. The challenge lies in the vowel reduction in unstressed syllables and maintaining the correct /ɪ/ sound in the second syllable, plus the final /əns/ sequence. Focus on crisp syllable separation and avoid conflating the /ɪ/ with a schwa in the second syllable. End with a precise /səns/.
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Reminiscence comes from the French reminiscence, ultimately from Latin reminiscor, meaning to remember. The root re- (back, again) + memoria (memory) suggests a turning back to memory. The English form emerged in the 16th–18th centuries, aligning with the rise of essayistic and reflective prose in which writers describe past events. Over time, reminiscence has acquired nuanced connotations of sentimentality and nostalgia, distinguishing it from mere recall by emphasizing emotional recollection and narrative memory. In usage, it often appears in literary, psychological, and personal contexts, where the act of reminiscence is framed as a purposeful or therapeutic engagement with one’s past. First known uses appear in early modern English texts, with longer, more reflective passages in 17th and 18th-century literature, and later in 19th-century memoirs and psychological discourse. The term’s prevalence grew with the popularity of reminiscence as a topic in psychotherapy and nostalgia-driven media, while remaining academically associated with the cognitive act of recollection and the phenomenology of memory.
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Words that rhyme with "Reminiscence"
-nce sounds
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