Proper Pronunciation Guide

sine qua non

[sɪ nə kwɑ nɑn]

Tips:

  • Pronounce the letter “i” as the short vowel
    /ɪ/ —like the vowel in the word “sin.”
  • Pronounce the letter “e” as the weak schwa vowel
    /ə/.
  • Pronounce the letters “qu” as /kw/.
  • Pronounce both the letter “a” and the letter “o” as
    /ɑ/—like the vowel in the word “father.”
  • Stress the final syllable.

Practice Sentences:

 The lead actress of the stage production was a sine qua non for its success.
A fireworks display is the sine qua non of a Fourth of July celebration.

Definition:

  • (noun) An essential factor or condition which is indispensable (Latin: without which not, or without which it cannot be).

Notes:

This is a word in which the spelling includes all of the five vowel letters: a, e, i, o, and u, although the letter “u” is pronounced as the consonant glide /w/.

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