consequence
/ˈkɑn.sɪ.kwəns/noun, verb
consequence is spelled C-O-N-S-E-Q-U-E-N-C-E: 11 letters and 3 syllables. It appears 12 times per million words in written English, the 6,347th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, consequence means “An effect; something that follows a cause as a result” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of consequence is consequences.
How many letters and syllables are in consequence?
| Letters | 11: C-O-N-S-E-Q-U-E-N-C-E |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 3 (from its American pronunciation) |
| In writing | 12 times per million words; the 6,347th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation and the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is consequence?
Consequence appears 12 times per million words in written English, the 6,347th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce consequence?
- UK /ˈkɒn.sɪ.kwəns/
- US /ˈkɑn.sɪ.kwəns/
- US /ˈkɑn.sɪˌkwɛns/
Consequence has 3 syllables (counted from its American pronunciation in the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-consequence.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of consequence
- consequences plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- consequencing participle, present
- consequenced participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does consequence mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
An effect; something that follows a cause as a result.
- 2
An unwanted or unpleasant effect.
I'm warning you. If you don't get me the report on time, there will be consequences.
- 3
consecution; chain of causes and effects.
- 4
conclusion, deduction or inference; the thing concluded.
- 5
Importance, influence, or significance.
My opinions are of no consequence whatsoever to my parents.
verb
- 1
To threaten or punish (a child, etc.) with specific consequences for misbehaviour.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Consequence in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense that which follows something on which it depends:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | conséquence |
| German | Konsequenz, Folge |
| Portuguese | consequência, resultado |
| Spanish | consecuencia |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does consequence come from?
From Middle English consequence, from Old French consequence, from Latin consequentia. While analysable as con- + sequence, its adjective form has a different origin.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).