How to pronounce internecine
Say it like in-ter-NES-een. Internecine has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce internecine. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- in
- ter
- NES
- een
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Internecine pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- inGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- terKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
- NESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- eenKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of internecine
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: in-tuh-NEE-syne.
What does internecine mean?
- Mutually destructive; most often applied to warfare.“Internecine strife in Gaza claimed its most senior victim yesterday when militants assassinated one of the most hated security chiefs there.”
- Characterized by struggle within a group, usually applied to an ethnic or familial relationship.“The Mongol people were plagued by internecine conflict until Genghis Khan unified them by focusing their aggression outwards on other peoples.”
Where does internecine come from?
Borrowed from Latin internecīnus (“deadly”), from internecium (“a massacre, bloodbath; an eradication”) + -īnus.
Questions about saying internecine
How do you pronounce internecine?
Say in-ter-NES-een. The American pronunciation is /ˌɪntɚˈnɛsin/. In British English it is /ˌɪntəˈniːsaɪn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in internecine?
Internecine has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (NES). Broken into parts: in · ter · NES · een.
Is internecine pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /ˌɪntəˈniːsaɪn/ (in-tuh-NEE-syne).