How to pronounce decide
Say it like dis-EYED. Decide has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EYED).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce decide. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dis
- EYED
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Decide pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- disGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- EYEDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of decide
American and British speakers say decide in essentially the same way: /ˌdɪˈsaɪd/ in the US and /dɪˈsaɪd/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-SYDE.
What does decide mean?
- reach, make, or come to a decision about something“We finally decided after lengthy deliberations”
- bring to an end; settle conclusively“The case was decided”“The judge decided the case in favor of the plaintiff”
- cause to decide“This new development finally decided me!”
Where does decide come from?
From Middle English deciden, from Old French decider, from Latin dēcīdere, infinitive of dēcīdō (“cut off, decide”), from dē (“down from”) + caedō (“cut”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with decide
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of decide.
Questions about saying decide
How do you pronounce decide?
Say dis-EYED. The American pronunciation is /ˌdɪˈsaɪd/. In British English it is /dɪˈsaɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in decide?
Decide has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (EYED). Broken into parts: dis · EYED.
Do Americans and Brits say decide the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌdɪˈsaɪd/ and the British form is /dɪˈsaɪd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.