How to pronounce debt
Say it like DET. Debt is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- DET
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: The b is silent, so debt rhymes with net and wet.
Debt pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DETSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of debt
American and British speakers say debt in essentially the same way: /dɛt/ in the US and /dɛt/ in the UK.
British respelling: DET.
What does debt mean?
- An action, state of mind, or object one has an obligation to perform for another, adopt toward another, or give to another.
- The state or condition of owing something to another.“I am in your debt.”
- Money that one person or entity owes or is required to pay to another, generally as a result of a loan or other financial transaction.
Where does debt come from?
The unpronounced "b" in the modern English spelling is a Latinisation from the Latin etymon dēbitum.
Words that rhyme with debt
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of debt.
Questions about saying debt
How do you pronounce debt?
Say DET. The American pronunciation is /dɛt/. In British English it is /dɛt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in debt?
Debt is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DET.
Do Americans and Brits say debt the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɛt/ and the British form is /dɛt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.