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Pedants' corner

How many syllables in 'diamond'

128 replies

Aparecium · 24/07/2025 16:07

I'm in SE England and always say it in two syllables: DI-mond. But I've just been listening to an audiobook read in a very RP accent, and every character gives it three syllables: DI-a-mond. The a is more of a neutral shwah sound than a flat a.

AFAIK I speak RP with a slight foreign accent at times (1st gen immigrant).

So, which is right?

OP posts:
Knowsley · 26/07/2025 12:44

@Joboomer , sounds not spelling IMO.
Many words can be both n-syllable and n+1-syllable, depending on accent.
e.g medicine [ˈmɛd(ɪ)s(ɪ)n], vegetable [ˈvɛdʒ(ɪ)təbl]

Hallywally · 26/07/2025 12:47

I’m in Lancashire (which does have various accent). All have two syllables-

Dymubd
Lybri
Wenzdi

(Tried to spell them as phonetically as possible)

Hallywally · 26/07/2025 12:48

Dymund!

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