How to pronounce degrade
Say it like dih-GRAYD. Degrade has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GRAYD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce degrade. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- GRAYD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Degrade 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.
- GRAYDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of degrade
American and British speakers say degrade in essentially the same way: /dɪˈɡreɪd/ in the US and /dɪˈɡreɪd/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-GRAYD.
What does degrade mean?
- To lower in value or social position.“Fred degrades himself by his behavior.”
- To reduce in quality or purity.“The DNA sample has degraded.”
- To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.
Where does degrade come from?
From Middle French dégrader.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with degrade
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of degrade.
Questions about saying degrade
How do you pronounce degrade?
Say dih-GRAYD. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈɡreɪd/. In British English it is /dɪˈɡreɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in degrade?
Degrade has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GRAYD). Broken into parts: dih · GRAYD.
Do Americans and Brits say degrade the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈɡreɪd/ and the British form is /dɪˈɡreɪd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.