How to pronounce valence
Say it like VAY-luns. Valence has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce valence. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- VAY
- luns
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Valence pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- VAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
- lunsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of valence
American and British speakers say valence in essentially the same way: /ˈveɪləns/ in the US and /ˈveɪləns/ in the UK.
British respelling: VAY-luns.
What does valence mean?
- The combining capacity of an atom, functional group, or radical determined by the number of atoms of hydrogen with which it will unite, or the number of electrons that it will gain, lose, or share when it combines with other atoms, etc.
- The number of binding sites of a molecule, such as an antibody or antigen.
- The number of arguments that a verb can have, including its subject, ranging from zero to three or, less commonly, four.“In this assignment you will analyze each of the following sentences and determine the valence of the highlighted verb.”
- Alternative spelling of valance.
Where does valence come from?
Etymology 1, noun sense 2 (“number of arguments a verb can have”) was formed by analogy to the use of the word in chemistry: see above.
Words that rhyme with valence
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of valence.
Questions about saying valence
How do you pronounce valence?
Say VAY-luns. The American pronunciation is /ˈveɪləns/. In British English it is /ˈveɪləns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in valence?
Valence has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (VAY). Broken into parts: VAY · luns.
Do Americans and Brits say valence the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈveɪləns/ and the British form is /ˈveɪləns/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.