I've never encountered that one before, but according to a Google search, it looks like you're not the only one who specifically remembers being taught that spelling. Some of the links I clicked theorize that the spelling could originate from a textbook misprint, but that seems to be purely hypothetical.

Interesting, though.

Both The Babylon dictionary on my pc and thw Wikipedia website redirects the search results to "dilemma" which means that dilemna is a synonym of dilemma.
indeed it is a spelling dilemma.

From “online etymology”

dilemma, cir. 1523 from Late Latin dilemma, from Greek dilemma “double proposition”, a technical term in Rhetoric, from “di” = two + “lemma” = premise [anything taken]. It should be used only of situations where someone is forced to choose between two alternatives, both unfavorable to him.

Per this entry, the spelling in both Greek and Latin has a double “mm” NOT “mn” therefore your educator was incorrect. I'd like to know how that happened, maybe it was a typo. I fear he/she was teaching "by the book" and not the intellect. I would have thought you would have discovered this mistake before the age of 26.

Joseph, I am very tired and slow today - I don't get your friend's joke. Would you explain it? It sounds like it's sure to be funny.

EDIT: Oh, DUH! Never mind. I AM tired and slow today!

That's so strange--I never knew that it could also be spelled "dilemna." Learn something new every day, I guess!

That's an interesting observation. I assumed at first that "dilemna" may have been changed to "dilemma" simply to lessen confusion over a period of years, though they are pronounced the same way. Yet the Latin origin of "dilemma" seems to dispute that. Maybe it's just some kind of colloquial offshoot, like a regional variation.

So I'm wondering if there is any commonality among those of us who learned dilemna? I'm from Western Pennsylvania, and attending Roman Catholic Grade School.

It seems to me I've heard people pronounce it "dilemna." I don't think I've seen it spelled that way before, though.

I was also taught to spell it Dilemna.... I am sure I was taught this way because I have often jokingly pronounced the "N" which (after doing the same research as everyone else) I realize is not only not a funny joke, but makes no sense to anyone else... lol... I say we spell it with the N, that way we'll all know who is cool and who is just normal....

The correct versions of the word in English and French are respectively 'dilemma' and 'dilemme.' Both contain double 'm's and not a single 'n.' What's even more bewildering is the fact that the ultimate origin of this term is Greek, and even there, no 'n' is to be found. How this common orthographic solecism managed to creep into the two languages is indeed a subject that many a linguist would find pretty engrossing, I bet.

Welcome to the forum Stuart Bradley. English is my second language, and though I am now 46, I am not ashame to say that I am still learning to improve my English. Where I'm working, doesn't need me to speak or write much of English. This forum has been a great help, that means the help comes from everyone involves in this forum. Anyway, From all the post above, only then I realize that all along, I've spelled Dilemna wrongly.

I agree, same here. I've been following this thread with an increasing sense of confusion since I have never been taught, "heard or read the word dilemna". I am still puzzled - why would so many schools teach the same wrong spelling of a word? I have never heard this about any other word, so why dilemma?

Ruby Moon. I'm with you, girl. This is one of the most bizarre mysteries concerning an English error I have ever come across!

I went to 16 different schools across a couple of countries: nary a one of 'em shoved an 'n' into dilemma.

What's even more fascinating to speculate upon is which version will eventuate. In 50 years time will it become an optionally-spelled word or will one version be the "right" one?

I once saw the word "dilemna" online, but as I don't believe I had ever seen it previously, I assumed it was a silly error. I'm surprised to hear that it's actually a silly pandemic.

Just to add to the confusion, I attended school in Australia and to me it's always been 'dilemna'. In fact, I don't remember ever encountering 'dilemma' previously and when finding it earlier today I thought it was a modern, incorrect, Americanisation of the word.

YOU ARE CORRECT!!!
You are not alone. The spelling was DILEMNA!!! I remember it as it were yesterday and that's how I was taught and then this spell checker thing said it was two MM's and not MN, boy I thought I was losing it and then I googled and found this site and I'm positively positive that it was previously spelled DILEMNA.
The American English language keeps evolving. Example, we now buy PANT instead of a PAIR OF PANTS, so no, you're not crazy, you're correct regardless of what anyone else says. I'm with you on this one.

hmm...I knew it's 'dilemma' all along.