3 syllables: Vi, o, lence. Stress on Vi.
VEYE-uh-luhns
/ˈvaɪələns/
Violence is pronounced VEYE-uh-luhns (/ˈvaɪələns/). It has three syllables (Vi-o-lence), with the stress on "Vi". Violence is the use of physical force intended to harm people or property, or the behavior that results from such force. It encompasses actions ranging from aggressive confrontation to severe physical injury, often driven by anger, coercion, or systemic power dynamics. As a concept, it also refers to the broader social and historical contexts in which force is exerted.
nounViolence is the use of physical force intended to harm people or property, or the behavior that results from such force. It encompasses actions ranging from aggressive confrontation to severe physical injury, often driven by anger, coercion, or systemic power dynamics. As a concept, it also refers to the broader social and historical contexts in which force is exerted.
- You may over-articulate the middle vowel, turning VI-o-lence into VI-OL-ence. Keep it light: /ˈvaɪ.ə.ləns/ is wrong; aim for /ˈvaɪ.ə.ləns/ with a quick, subtle schwa. - Another error is stressing the wrong syllable or distributing stress across syllables. Remember: primary stress on the first syllable: VI-uh-lence. - A final mistake is mispronouncing the /l/ and the final /ən(s)/, often producing / ˈvaɪ.əlɛns/ or /ˈvaɪləns/. To fix: practice the transition from the /l/ to /ən(s)/ with a light tongue and a crisp stop between -l and -ence. - Practice tips: slow down the word in isolation, then build up speed while keeping the same positions. Record yourself, listen for a short first syllable, a neutral middle, and a compact ending.
"The protest was peaceful, but the clashes that followed escalated into violence."
"Researchers study the causes of violence to develop prevention strategies."
"He spoke out against domestic violence and offered resources for victims."
Pronounce as /ˈvaɪələns/ in US/UK/AU. The first syllable has a stressed long AI sound /aɪ/ as in “eye,” followed by a schwa /ə/ and a light /l/ before the final /əns/ cluster. Say: VY-uh-luhns. Keep the /l/ clear but light, and end with a soft /ns/.
Common errors include turning the /ɪ/ into a full vowel in the second syllable (VI-OL-ENCE vs VI-uh-lence) and misplacing stress by saying /ˈvaɪləns/ or /ˈvaɪə.ləns/. Another frequent issue is over-articulating the middle vowel or adding an extra syllable. To correct: keep the middle vowel near a relaxed schwa, maintain primary stress on the first syllable, and compress the final -lence into /ləns/.
US and UK generally share /ˈvaɪələns/ with rhoticity not affecting this word much; Australian English mirrors /ˈvaɪələns/ but with slightly different vowel quality in /ə/ and a laxer /l/ timing. The main variation lies in vowel duration and the realization of /ɪ/ in unstressed syllables and the postvocalic /ɹ/ absence in non-rhotic speakers; focus on the /aɪ/ onset and a clean /l/ before /ən(s)/.
The difficulty centers on the sequence /aɪə/ within the first two syllables and the light, quick /ə/ between /ɪ/ and /l/; many speakers compress or misplace the schwa in the middle, leading to an intrusive vowel or a heavier syllable than intended. Additionally, the final /əns/ can be mispronounced as /eɪns/ or /ɛns/. Keep the /aɪ/ onset distinct, then a quick /ə/ before the /l/.
The word uniquely couples a strong first syllable with two lighter, quick sounds in the middle and a concise ending. The challenge is maintaining a clean /l/ before the /əns/ without inserting extra vowels or delaying the final consonant cluster. Focus on: 1) accurate /aɪ/ onset, 2) a relaxed /ə/ before /l/, 3) crisp /ns/.
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- US: /ˈvaɪələns/ with clear /ɪ/ in the vulnerable second syllable and a slightly reduced /ə/; stress stays on the first syllable. - UK: similar /ˈvaɪələns/ but with a slightly more clipped /ləns/ and less rhotic influence, keeping the /ə/ very light. - AU: /ˈvaɪələns/ with Australian vowel quality: a higher, more centralized /ɪ/ in the middle and a more rapid transition to /ləns/. In all accents, keep the /aɪ/ onset prominent and the final /lən(t)s/ crisp.
Violence comes from the Latin violentia, from violentus meaning ‘forceful, mighty, violent,’ which itself derives from vis, meaning ‘force, power.’ The term entered English via Old French as violence in the late medieval period, originally signifying tumult, force, or coercion. In early modern usage, it retained broad sense of physical force and brute power and gradually narrowed in many contexts to refer specifically to physical injury or brutality, though metaphorical uses (emotional or systemic violence) emerged in later centuries. The concept also intersects with moral and legal language, shaping debates on rights, punishment, and social order. First known use in English traces to the 13th-14th centuries, with Latin and French roots repeatedly influencing theological, philosophical, and political discourse about power and harm across civilizations.
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Words that rhyme with "Violence"
-nce sounds
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