The word defense is divided into 3 syllables: de·fen·se. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.
The phonetic transcription of defense:
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From Middle English defens, defense, from Old French defens, defense, from Late Latin dēfēnsa (“protection”). Displaced native Old English bewering. The verb is from the noun. From Middle English defencen, defensen, from Old French defenser or its etymon, Latin dēfēnsō.
Understanding how to break down defense into syllables helps with:
Compare defense with related words to understand syllable patterns:
| Word | Syllables | Division |
|---|---|---|
| defense | 3 | de·fen·se |
| deepening | 3 | dee-pen-ing |
| databank | 3 | da-ta-bank |
| defiance | 3 | de-fian-ce |
| defaming | 3 | de-fam-ing |
Explore syllable divisions of words related to defense:
defense has 3 syllables: de·fen·se. The word is divided into 3 distinct sound units that make up the complete pronunciation.
The stress is on the first syllable: de. This means you emphasize the "de" part when pronouncing defense.
defense is pronounced as /dɪˈfɛns/ (IPA notation). The syllables are divided as: de·fen·se.
Breaking defense into syllables helps with spelling: de·fen·se. By pronouncing each syllable separately, you can identify the letters more easily and avoid common spelling mistakes.
Learning syllable division helps with correct pronunciation, improved spelling, better reading fluency, and is useful for poetry and lyric writing where syllable counting matters. It's especially helpful for language learners.