How to pronounce trilemma
Say it like try-LEM-uh. Trilemma has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEM).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce trilemma. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- try
- LEM
- uh
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Trilemma pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- tryKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- LEMSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of trilemma
American and British speakers say trilemma in essentially the same way: /traɪˈlɛmə/ in the US and /traɪˈlɛmə/ in the UK.
British respelling: try-LEM-uh.
What does trilemma mean?
- A circumstance in which a choice must be made between three options that seem equally undesirable.
- A situation in which a choice must be made among three desirable options, only two of which are possible at the same time.
- An argument containing three alternatives, jointly exhaustive either under any condition(s) or under all condition(s) consistent with the universe of discourse of that argument, that each imply the same conclusion.
Where does trilemma come from?
The word is modeled on dilemma, with di- (“two, twice, double”) replaced by tri- (“three”), equivalent to tri- + lemma.
Words that rhyme with trilemma
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of trilemma.
Questions about saying trilemma
How do you pronounce trilemma?
Say try-LEM-uh. The American pronunciation is /traɪˈlɛmə/. In British English it is /traɪˈlɛmə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in trilemma?
Trilemma has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (LEM). Broken into parts: try · LEM · uh.
Do Americans and Brits say trilemma the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /traɪˈlɛmə/ and the British form is /traɪˈlɛmə/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.