How to pronounce default
Say it like dih-FAWLT. Default has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAWLT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce default. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- FAWLT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Default pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- dihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- FAWLTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of default
American and British speakers say default in essentially the same way: /dɪˈfɔlt/ in the US and /dɪˈfɔːlt/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-FAWLT.
What does default mean?
- loss due to not showing up“he lost the game by default”
- act of failing to meet a financial obligation
- loss resulting from failure of a debt to be paid
- fail to pay up
Where does default come from?
From Middle English defaut, defaute, from Old French defaute (“fault, defect, failure, culpability, lack”), ultimately from Latin de- (“away”) + fallo (“deceive, cheat, escape notice of”).
Words that rhyme with default
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of default.
Questions about saying default
How do you pronounce default?
Say dih-FAWLT. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈfɔlt/. In British English it is /dɪˈfɔːlt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in default?
Default has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FAWLT). Broken into parts: dih · FAWLT.
Do Americans and Brits say default the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈfɔlt/ and the British form is /dɪˈfɔːlt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.