How to pronounce deadbeat
Say it like DED-beet. Deadbeat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce deadbeat. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DED
- beet
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Deadbeat pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- beetGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of deadbeat
American and British speakers say deadbeat in essentially the same way: /ˈdɛdˌbit/ in the US and /ˈdɛdbiːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: DED-beet.
What does deadbeat mean?
- A person who defaults on debts.
- A customer who pays their credit card or loan balance in full and on time each month, thereby incurring no interest charges. (Compare revolver, who carries a balance and pays interest.)
- Having a damped needle that stops without oscillation.
- Defaulting on one's debts.
- Defeated or exhausted.
Where does deadbeat come from?
From dead + beat. As an adjective, of a person, to be exhausted, first use appears c.
Questions about saying deadbeat
How do you pronounce deadbeat?
Say DED-beet. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɛdˌbit/. In British English it is /ˈdɛdbiːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in deadbeat?
Deadbeat has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DED). Broken into parts: DED · beet.
Do Americans and Brits say deadbeat the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɛdˌbit/ and the British form is /ˈdɛdbiːt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.