How to Pronounce Dilemma

To pronounce "dilemma", say dil-EMM-a — 3 syllables, IPA /dɪˈɫɛmə/. Tap play below to hear it in four English accents, or practice it syllable by syllable.

dilemma

Tap to hear · American accent

Accent

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Speed

Syllable by syllable — tap each one

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3

Syllables

7

Letters

/dɪˈɫɛmə/

🇺🇸 IPA (US)

/daɪlˈɛmɐ/

🇬🇧 IPA (UK)

💡 Tip for remembering “dilemma”

Break "dilemma" into 3 beats and lean on "EMM" — that's the stressed one. It rhymes with emma and rhema, if that helps it stick.

What does dilemma mean?

noun

  1. A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.
  2. A difficult circumstance or problem.

Synonyms

bindfixpickleproblemquandary

Hear “dilemma” in real sentences

Real example sentences from Tatoeba (CC-BY) — tap to hear each one, or see it used on YouGlish.

Words that rhyme with dilemma

Practicing rhymes trains the same ending sounds.

emmarhemastemmatremacremahema-cbemakaremaaardemabultema

Related words

quandaryparadoxcontradictionconundrumtrade-offpuzzlepredicamentchoice

Frequently asked questions

How many syllables are in "dilemma"?▾

"Dilemma" has 3 syllables: dil · emm · a.

What is the IPA transcription of "dilemma"?▾

The IPA transcription of "dilemma" is /dɪˈɫɛmə/.

What does "dilemma" mean?▾

Dilemma: A circumstance in which a choice must be made between two or more alternatives that seem equally undesirable.

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