HOW TO PRONOUNCE
dilemma
/dɪˈlɛmə/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 1:05
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The second syllable is strongest.
Begin with the short i vowel. Other dictionary forms have a different opening vowel, but keep the same main stress and light final vowel.
3 syllables · Stress on syllable 2
TRY SAYING
“We faced a difficult dilemma.”
APG practice sentence · CC BY-SA 4.0
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗What does dilemma mean?
noun
- A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.
- Any difficult circumstance or problem.
- A type of syllogism of the form "if A is true then B is true; if C is true then D is true; either A or C is true; therefore either B or D is true".
More meanings (1)
noun
- Offering to an opponent a choice between two (equally unfavorable) alternatives.
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/dɪˈlɛmə/
Pronunciation used in the listening tip.
CMU Pronouncing Dictionary ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
They are educated men, and thousands of them must resent the dilemma which compels them to be either fools or hypocrites.
“Well, it wasn’t right for her to say it,” said Anne, promptly deciding upon which horn of this dilemma to empale herself.
More book examples (2)
In this dilemma, Cosette had caught sight through the fence of Éponine in man’s clothes, who now prowled incessantly around the garden.
He was driven to pawn his watch and chain for $35, and then met a friend who helped him out of his dilemma.