How many syllables in the word "Indifference"?

Question

I was wondering because most people pronounce it "in-diff-rence".

Answer 1

Yes, DO look in the dictionary. And you will find that, contrary to what others are saying, this word can be pronounced with either four OR three syllables! The pronounciation you give --which is quite common, and perfectly acceptable-- is with THREE syllables, the "e" between the f and r becoming silent.

See for example, the dictionary entry in the following link, which shows both pronunciations, the second one with one less syllable.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/indifference

compare:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/indifference

Answer 2

4

Answer 3

4

Answer 4

There are four syllables in the word "indifference." In-diff-er-nce. A great way to figure out the number of syllables in a word is to clap each time while saying the word. Count the number of times you clapped while saying the word 'indifference.' [you clap every time there's a sort of..pause in the word.]

You can also check out online syllable counters, although I'm not sure how reliable those might be. Search one up on google!

Hope that helped. =)

Answer 5

Yep--you are right. Looking at the word and pronouncing it--there are 4 syllables. Then I looked away and said the word--with 3 syllables. lol

Answer 6

four. my friend taught me a trick: put ur hand under your chin, say the word, and count how many times your chin goes down. that's tell u how many syllabels.

Answer 7

its four. n you break it up like this:

in·dif·fer·ence



look in a dictionary ^_^