The Myth of 'Condolence' Rhyming with 'Orange'

When my friends and I were in a heated debate over what rhymes with the word orange, two of them confidently suggested that condolence is the answer. But in reality, this belief is rooted in a linguistic misunderstanding and a disregard for the strict rules of rhyming.

Why 'Condolence' and 'Orange' Don't Rhyme

The Oxford English Dictionary clearly states that the only word rhyming with orange is sporange, a botanical term for a part of a fern or similar plant. This immediate dismissal of condolence not only highlights the incorrect belief but also emphasizes the distinct nature of orange in the English language.

The Levels of Rhyming: Perfect Rhymes

Perfect or exact rhymes adhere to specific criteria that must be met. In the case of condolence and orange, these words fail to satisfy these stringent conditions:

Accented Syllables: Only accented syllables rhyme in perfect rhymes. The final syllables of both condolence and orange do not carry the primary stress, therefore they do not qualify as perfect rhymes. Vowel Sounds: The final vowel sounds of condolence and orange are not the same. Condolence ends in "-ence" while orange ends in "-enj," making them only a near-rhyme. Consonant Sounds: The final consonant sounds of condolence and orange are not the same. While -nce and -dge are similar in sibilant quality, they do not match exactly and are therefore not considered a perfect rhyme.

A Limerick Attempt: A Frustrating Experiment

Is it possible to force condolence and orange into a limerick? Let's see:

There was a young man from Bolangen
Who offered a widow condolencen
But her husband weren't deadd
He was just in the shedd
So his face went a bright shade of orange

While this attempt at a limerick may be amusing, it does not work due to the fundamental misplacement of the stressed syllables. The lack of stress on the key rhyming phoneme, as seen in "condolenge," further proves the inability of these words to fit the structure of a rhyme.

Conclusion: The Linguistic Universe of Dialects

The belief that condolence rhymes with orange