3 syllables: Re, sis, tance. Stress on sis.
riz-IS-tuhns
/ɹɪˈzɪstəns/
Resistance is pronounced riz-IS-tuhns (/ɹɪˈzɪstəns/). It has three syllables (Re-sis-tance), with the stress on "sis". Resistance is the act or power of opposing or withstanding something, especially against force, influence, or pressure. It can also refer to a material’s opposition to the flow of electric current. In social contexts, it denotes opposition or noncompliance. (2–4 sentences, concise and precise; 50–80 words).
nounResistance is the act or power of opposing or withstanding something, especially against force, influence, or pressure. It can also refer to a material’s opposition to the flow of electric current. In social contexts, it denotes opposition or noncompliance. (2–4 sentences, concise and precise; 50–80 words)
- You might tense your jaw and over-project the second syllable; keep a relaxed, crisp tongue for /z/ and a light closure for the final /t/ before /əns/. - Another frequent issue is merging the second and third syllables in fast speech, producing ri-ZIS-tins or ri-ZIS-ns; practice with pacing and controlled breath. - Some learners mispronounce the ending as -ence or -ants; anchor the final -tance with a light touch on the /t/ and an unstressed schwa. Use gentle, precise articulation so the final nasal-/s/ remains audible.
How to Pronounce Resistance
"The protesters showed peaceful resistance to unjust laws."
"Electrical resistance increases when the material heats up."
"There is strong resistance to new ideas in the committee."
Pronounced ri-ZIS-tuhns (US) / rɪˈzɪs.təns /. The primary stress is on the second syllable. Start with a quick, light ‘ri’ glide, then a sharp ‘z’ cluster, followed by a schwa in the final syllable. For a clear audio reference, mimic the rhythm you’d use in ‘resist’ + ‘-ance.’ IPA: US rɪˈzɪs.təns; UK rɪˈzɪs.təns; AU rɪˈzɪs.təns.
Common errors include over-weakening the middle syllable so it sounds like ri-ZIS-tins or slipping the second vowel into a schwa mispronunciation. Another is misplacing the primary stress on the first syllable (RE-sis-tance) or pronouncing the final -ance as -ents. Correct it by stressing the second syllable (ri-ZIS-təns), ensuring the 's' is crisp, and finishing with a clear, unstressed -tance.
In US English, you’ll hear r-colored vowels in r-ful environments and a crisp /z/ in the second syllable with strong rhotics. UK English tends to have a non-rhotic quality, with /ɪ/ closer to a short i and a slightly shorter final -əns. Australian English mirrors rhotics less strongly but keeps the /z/ emphasis; vowel qualities are a touch more centralized and the final syllable can sound slightly more reduced.
The difficulty comes from the three-syllable structure with a stressed second syllable and a consonant cluster around the /z/ followed by a light /ə/ or /əns/ ending. The transition from the liquid-like ‘res’ to /z/ and the trailing /əns/ can blur in rapid speech. Focus on keeping the /z/ voiced and the final /ns/ crisp, with a clear, short first vowel in the second syllable.
The word contains a prosodic peak on the second syllable (ri-ZIS-təns), followed by a subdued final syllable. A unique consideration is maintaining a clear /z/ before the alveolar /t/ and ensuring the final /əns/ remains distinct rather than swallowing into /ns/ or /nts/ in fast speech.
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US: rhotic, fuller r-colors before vowels; pronounce /ɹ/ with a strong grip and a clear /z/; final -tance ends with a light /əns/. UK: non-rhotic; /ɹ/ is weaker or absent before vowels; maintain a crisp /z/ and a shorter final /əns/. AU: mid-range rhotic tendencies; keep /z/ prominent, and the final /əns/ slightly quicker, with a less emphasized vowel. IPA references: US rɪˈzɪs.təns; UK rɪˈzɪs.təns; AU rɪˈzɪs.tən(t)s.
Resistance comes from the Latin word resistentia, from resistere meaning to stand back or hold back. The root resistere blends re- (back) with sistere (to set, place). In English, resistance was adopted in the 14th century in a general sense of opposing or withstanding. By the 17th century, it also referred to materials opposing electric current, a scientific extension of the term’s core meaning of opposing force. The word gained momentum in physics and electrical engineering in the 19th century as Ohm’s law formalized resistance as a measurable property (R). In social and political contexts, resistance emerged as a term for organized opposition movements, echoing earlier uses but with broader connotations of defiance and resilience. The evolving sense spans physical, political, and abstract forms of opposition, all anchored in the core idea of resisting, opposing, or withstanding external force.
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Words that rhyme with "Resistance"
-nce sounds
-nse sounds
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