How to pronounce deciduous
Say it like dis-IJ-oo-us. Deciduous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (IJ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce deciduous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dis
- IJ
- oo
- us
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Deciduous 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.
- IJSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- ooKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
- usKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of deciduous
American and British speakers say deciduous in essentially the same way: /ˌdɪˈsɪdʒuəs/ in the US and /dɪˈsɪdʒʊəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-SIJ-uu-us.
What does deciduous mean?
- Describing a part that falls off, or is shed, at a particular time or stage of development.
- Of or pertaining to trees which lose their leaves in winter or the dry season.“a deciduous tree”
- Transitory, ephemeral, not lasting.
Where does deciduous come from?
Learned borrowing from Latin dēciduus (“falling down or off”), from dēcidō (“to fall down or off”) + -uus.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with deciduous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of deciduous.
Questions about saying deciduous
How do you pronounce deciduous?
Say dis-IJ-oo-us. The American pronunciation is /ˌdɪˈsɪdʒuəs/. In British English it is /dɪˈsɪdʒʊəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in deciduous?
Deciduous has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (IJ). Broken into parts: dis · IJ · oo · us.
Do Americans and Brits say deciduous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌdɪˈsɪdʒuəs/ and the British form is /dɪˈsɪdʒʊəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.