How to pronounce deathbed
Say it like DETH-bed. Deathbed has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DETH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce deathbed. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DETH
- bed
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Deathbed pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DETHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- bedGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of deathbed
American and British speakers say deathbed in essentially the same way: /ˈdɛθˌbɛd/ in the US and /ˈdɛθˌbɛd/ in the UK.
British respelling: DETH-bed.
What does deathbed mean?
- The bed on which someone dies.
- The last hours before death.
- A grave; the site of a burial or entombment.
Where does deathbed come from?
From Middle English dethbed, from Old English dēaþbedd (“deathbed; grave”), equivalent to death + bed.
Questions about saying deathbed
How do you pronounce deathbed?
Say DETH-bed. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɛθˌbɛd/. In British English it is /ˈdɛθˌbɛd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in deathbed?
Deathbed has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DETH). Broken into parts: DETH · bed.
Do Americans and Brits say deathbed the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɛθˌbɛd/ and the British form is /ˈdɛθˌbɛd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.