How to pronounce deft
Say it like DEFT. Deft is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- DEFT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Deft pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DEFTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of deft
American and British speakers say deft in essentially the same way: /dɛft/ in the US and /dɛft/ in the UK.
British respelling: DEFT.
What does deft mean?
- Quick and neat in action; skillful.“He assembled it in one fluid, deft motion.”
Where does deft come from?
From Middle English defte, daft (“gentle”), from Old English dæfte (“mild, gentle, meek”), from Proto-West Germanic *daftī (“fitting, suitable”), derived from *dabaną (“to be suitable”).
Words that rhyme with deft
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of deft.
Questions about saying deft
How do you pronounce deft?
Say DEFT. The American pronunciation is /dɛft/. In British English it is /dɛft/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in deft?
Deft is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DEFT.
Do Americans and Brits say deft the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɛft/ and the British form is /dɛft/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.