How to pronounce debacle
Say it like duh-BAH-kul. Debacle has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BAH).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce debacle. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- duh
- BAH
- kul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Debacle pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- duhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- BAHSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- kulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of debacle
American and British speakers say debacle in essentially the same way: /dəˈbɑkəl/ in the US and /deɪˈbɑːkəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: day-BAH-kul.
What does debacle mean?
- An event or enterprise that ends suddenly and disastrously, often with humiliating consequences.
- A breaking up of a natural dam, usually made of ice, by a river and the ensuing rush of water.
Where does debacle come from?
The hypothesised derivation from Middle Dutch *bakkelen (“to freeze artificially, lock in place”), a frequentative of bakken (“to stick, stick hard, glue together”) no longer seems likely due to the lack of attestation of *bakkelen in Middl
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with debacle
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of debacle.
Questions about saying debacle
How do you pronounce debacle?
Say duh-BAH-kul. The American pronunciation is /dəˈbɑkəl/. In British English it is /deɪˈbɑːkəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in debacle?
Debacle has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (BAH). Broken into parts: duh · BAH · kul.
Do Americans and Brits say debacle the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dəˈbɑkəl/ and the British form is /deɪˈbɑːkəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.