How to pronounce dear
Say it like DEER. Dear is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dear. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DEER
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dear pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DEERSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of dear
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: DEER.
What does dear mean?
- dearly loved
- with or in a close or intimate relationship“a good friend”“my sisters and brothers are near and dear”
- sincerely earnest“one's dearest wish”“devout wishes for their success”
- a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
- a sweet innocent mild-mannered person (especially a child)
- with affection“she loved him dearly”“he treats her affectionately”
- at a great cost“he paid dearly for the food”“this cost him dear”
Where does dear come from?
Cognate with Yola dear (“dear”), Saterland Frisian djuur (“precious, dear, costly, expensive”), Alemannic German tüür (“expensive”), Dutch dier, duur (“expensive”), German teuer (“expensive”), Vilamovian taojer, tojer (“dear”), West Flemish
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with dear
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dear.
Words that sound like dear
Questions about saying dear
How do you pronounce dear?
Say DEER. The American pronunciation is /dɪr/. In British English it is /dɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dear?
Dear is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DEER.
Is dear pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /dɪə/ (DEER).
What words sound the same as dear?
Dear sounds the same as deer in American English. The spelling and meaning are what tell them apart.