How to Pronounce “condemn”

American (US)

/kənˈdem/

British (UK)

/kənˈdem/

Australian (AU)

/kənˈdem/

verb — To express complete disapproval of, or to sentence someone to a punishment.

Example: The statement condemned the attack in the strongest terms.

Synonyms: denounce, censure

Antonyms: praise

The final n is silent. An n after m at the end of a word is silent. “condemn” ends on /m/ — though the n comes back when a suffix is added, as in the related longer forms of the word.

Where the stress falls. “condemn” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /kənˈdem/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /kənˈdem/ contains a schwa /ə/ — the short, neutral “uh” that English unstressed syllables collapse into. Saying /ə/ there, instead of the vowel the spelling suggests, is most of what makes the word sound native.

What does "condemn" mean?

condemn (verb): To express complete disapproval of, or to sentence someone to a punishment. For example — The statement condemned the attack in the strongest terms.

How do you pronounce "condemn" in American vs British English?

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "condemn", /kənˈdem/, so the difference you hear is in how the vowels are coloured rather than in which sounds are used. Play both on this page to compare.

What is the IPA transcription of "condemn"?

/kənˈdem/ in American English, /kənˈdem/ in British English, /kənˈdem/ in Australian English.

Which syllable is stressed in "condemn"?

“condemn” has 2 syllables, and the transcription /kənˈdem/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the second one — so the second syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

• Silent N words