How to Pronounce “dissonance”

American (US)

/ˈdɪsənəns/

British (UK)

/ˈdɪsənəns/

noun — A harsh, discordant combination of sounds.

The final e is silent. The transcription /ˈdɪsənəns/ ends on a consonant sound, so the written e at the end of “dissonance” is not pronounced.

Where the stress falls. “dissonance” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈdɪsənəns/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.

An unstressed vowel reduces to schwa. /ˈdɪsənəns/ 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 "dissonance" mean?

dissonance (noun): A harsh, discordant combination of sounds.

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

Both accents use the same sequence of phonemes for "dissonance", /ˈdɪsənəns/, 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 "dissonance"?

/ˈdɪsənəns/ in American English, /ˈdɪsənəns/ in British English.

Which syllable is stressed in "dissonance"?

“dissonance” has 3 syllables, and the transcription /ˈdɪsənəns/ puts the primary stress mark (ˈ) before the first one — so the first syllable is the longest and loudest. The others are said quickly and lightly.