3 syllables: Re, so, nance. Stress on Re.
REZ-uh-nuhns
/ˈɹɛzənəns/
Resonance is pronounced REZ-uh-nuhns (/ˈɹɛzənəns/). It has three syllables (Re-so-nance), with the stress on "Re". Resonance is the quality of a sound that is amplified or deepened by vibrating objects around or inside the source, producing a fuller, more reverberant tone. It also refers to the collective effect of repeated or persistent vibrations within a system, influencing its overall character. In acoustics and physics, resonance occurs when a system responds with maximum amplitude at a particular frequency.
nounResonance is the quality of a sound that is amplified or deepened by vibrating objects around or inside the source, producing a fuller, more reverberant tone. It also refers to the collective effect of repeated or persistent vibrations within a system, influencing its overall character. In acoustics and physics, resonance occurs when a system responds with maximum amplitude at a particular frequency.
- Common phonetic challenges: 1) Inadequate vowel reduction in the middle syllable (not using a true schwa /ə/ or using a full vowel, making the rhythm heavy). 2) Overemphasizing the first syllable or misplacing stress, causing slowed pace and unnatural speech. 3) Mispronouncing the final /ns/ as /nz/ or not keeping a crisp /n/ before /s/. - Corrections: practice REZ-ə-nəns slowly, then gradually speed up while keeping a short, neutral middle vowel. Use minimal pairs like resonance vs resonate to hear the /z/ and z-arrangement. Record yourself and compare with a native pronouncing sample; listen for a crisp /ns/ end and a clean /z/ transition from /r/.
"The instrument’s body added warmth through resonance, enriching the note."
"Architects considered resonance when designing the concert hall to ensure rich, even sound."
"Her voice carried with noticeable resonance, making every word feel substantial."
Pronounce as /ˈrɛzəˌnæns/ in US and /rɪˈzɒnəns/ in UK. The primary stress is on the first syllable: REZ-ə-nəns, with a secondary stress on the second syllable in many US pronunciations. Ensure the middle syllable is a reduced schwa and the final syllable ends with /nɔns/ or /nəns/ depending on the accent. You can listen to native examples on Pronounce or Forvo to feel the subtle vowel timing. Mouth position: start with a light, relaxed /r/, then a clear /z/ before a short /ə/ before a broad /n/ into /ə/ or /æ/ depending on accent, finishing with /ns/.
Common mistakes: 1) Merging /z/ into an ambiguous /s/ or dropping the /r/ in non-rhotic accents. 2) Misplacing the secondary stress or not reducing the middle syllable to /ə/. Correct by: practice REZ-ə-nəns with the middle syllable reduced to a quick, unstressed schwa, and ensure the final /ns/ is crisp. In non-rhotic dialects, avoid adding an extra /r/ sound before -ance. Use minimal pairs like ‘resonate’ to anchor the /z/ and /z/ versus /s/ distinction.
US: /ˈrɛzəˌnæns/ with rhotic /r/, stronger final /æ/ or /æns/. UK: /rɪˈzɒnəns/ or /ˌrɛzəˈnɑːns/ with a shorter, tighter /ɒ/ and less pronounced rhoticity in some southern varieties. AU: /rəˈzɒnəns/ often more vowel reduction and a flatter intonation; may reduce to /rəˈzɒnəns/ with non-rhotic tendencies in casual speech. Focus on the /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ in the first stressed vowel and ensure crisp /nəns/ ending. Overall, rhoticity and vowel quality differ most between US and UK/AU; the final syllable often retains a palatalization difference around /æ/ vs /ə/.
Difficulties stem from the cluster /z/ followed by /ə/ and the need to maintain a clean, short schwa in the second syllable while preserving a clear final /ns/. The first syllable contains a voiced consonant /z/ just after /r/, which can invite softening or deletion if you rush. The final syllable hinges on a precise /ə/ or /æ/ before /ns/. Some speakers also overemphasize the second syllable, flattening the rhythm. Practice by isolating the consonant-vowel transitions and using minimal pairs to stabilize the sequence.
Resonance has a consonant cluster after the second syllable ending with -nce, which yields a crisp final /ns/. The stress pattern is primary on the first syllable (REZ-ə-nəns), with a secondary, lighter emphasis on the second syllable in some accents. There are no silent letters; all letters contribute to the phonetic structure. The critical features are the voiced /z/ after /r/, the unstressed middle /ə/ (schwa), and the final /ns/ consonant cluster. Practicing the exact syllabic timing ensures you don’t elide the middle vowel or the final nasal.
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- US: Rhotic /r/ is pronounced and influences the following vowels; keep the /ɜ/ or /e/ quality in the first syllable as needed. The middle schwa should stay relaxed; the final /æ/ or /ə/ before /ns/ should be short and crisp. - UK: Non-rhotic tendencies with a smaller /r/; ensure /r/ before the vowel doesn’t leak. The first syllable may be more compact; emphasize the /z/ and the /ɒ/ or /ɔ/ in the second syllable. - AU: Similar to UK but often slightly broader vowels; keep the middle /ə/ neutral and the final /ns/ crisp. Use IPA guides: /ˈrɛzəˌnæns/ (US) vs /rɪˈzɒnəns/ (UK) and /rəˈzɒnəns/ (AU).
Resonance comes from late Latin resonantia, from Latin resonare “to sound again,” formed from resonus for “recollection, echo” and the verb resono “to resound.” The root reso- implies “again” and sound. In English, the term entered scientific usage in the 17th–18th centuries with contributions from music and physics, where scholars described how objects return to a preferred vibration when excited at a matching frequency. The word gradually specialized from general “sound, echo” to a technical notion in acoustics, electronics, and mechanics, where resonance describes the amplification phenomenon due to constructive interference. First known uses appear in early modern works on acoustics and musical acoustics, evolving through the 18th and 19th centuries as experimental physics formalized resonance in vibrating strings, air columns, cavities, and later electrical circuits. The sense broadened in modern contexts to include metaphorical uses (e.g., “resonance with a audience’s values”). In sum, resonance retains the core idea of re-sounding or re-creating sound with greater amplitude at a specific natural frequency, a theme consistent from Latin roots to contemporary science and music.
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