How to Pronounce "defence"
The correct pronunciation of "defence" is di-FENCE /dɪˈfens/. Tap play to hear it, say it into your mic for a free clarity check, and fix the "DEE-fence" habit for good.
defence
/dɪˈfens/The action of protecting someone or something from attack.
Practice more words like this in the Pronunciation Challenge — a free mic test, no login.
Tap play to hear “defence”, then say it aloud and get a free instant clarity check with your microphone.Get your real pronunciation score
Record yourself saying “defence” and get a real, AI-graded score with word-by-word feedback — no account needed.
Record yourself saying “defence” and get a real, AI-graded pronunciation score with word-by-word feedback — free, no account needed.The Indian-English Mistake: "DEE-fence" — and the Fix
| Aspect | Common in India (incorrect) | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds like | Saying 'DEE-fence' with the stress on the first syllable. | di-FENCE /dɪˈfens/ |
| Stress | Often on the wrong syllable | Second syllable (FENCE). |
How Do You Pronounce "defence"?
"defence" is pronounced di-FENCE /dɪˈfens/. The stress is on the second syllable (FENCE). As a noun, it means the action of protecting someone or something from attack.
The stress is on the SECOND syllable, FENCE — not on 'DEE' at the front.
Note: The US spelling is 'defense'; the noun is sometimes front-stressed in American sports talk, but standard British and Indian-taught English use second-syllable di-FENCE.
Say "defence" Step by Step
Break the word down, get the stress right, then blend it back together at normal speed. Repeat each step out loud three times.
Break it into syllables
di-FENCE — say each part slowly and separately first.
Stress the right part
Second syllable (FENCE). Make the stressed syllable a little louder and longer.
Nail the key sound
The stress is on the SECOND syllable, FENCE — not on 'DEE' at the front.
Blend and repeat
Now say "defence" at normal speed: di-FENCE. Record yourself and compare.
Minimal-Pair Drills for "defence" (2 Minutes, Out Loud)
Say each drill line aloud, slowly first, then at normal speed. On the last drill, use the mic check at the top of this page to test yourself.
FENCE → di-FENCE
Add 'de-' but keep the loud beat on FENCE.
NOT DEE-fence — di-FENCE
The first beat stays soft; FENCE is the loud one.
Say at speed: "He spoke in defence of his friend."
Keep the stress on FENCE mid-sentence.
Why "defence" Is Tricky — and How to Fix It
Why this happens
Indian English front-loads it, especially in sport commentary, resting the beat on DEE.
Tip: Push the weight to the second beat: di-FENCE.
Hear “defence” in a Sentence
Read each line aloud with the same rhythm. The word to listen for is in bold.
The team has a strong defence.
He spoke in defence of his friend.
The country spends heavily on defence.
Now say it inside a sentence
Getting "defence" right on its own is the easy part. Pronunciation only sticks in connected speech. Read a passage aloud and get scored on accuracy and pace, word by word — free, no login.
Practice "defence" — and every other word — anywhere on the web
Highlight any sentence on any website or YouTube video, read it aloud, and get an instant clarity score with word-by-word feedback — the same check you just tried above, everywhere you read.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you pronounce "defence" in Indian English?
What is the most common mistake when saying "defence"?
Why do Indian English speakers find "defence" hard to pronounce?
Is there a US and UK difference in pronouncing "defence"?
Hear How Your English Really Sounds
Read a passage aloud and get scored word by word, with misread words highlighted and the sounds behind them a tap away. Used by 30,000+ learners.
Read Aloud, scored per word
Misread words highlighted
AI tutor voice calls