How to pronounce degree
Say it like dih-GREE. Degree has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GREE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce degree. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- GREE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Degree 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.
- GREESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of degree
American and British speakers say degree in essentially the same way: /dɪˈɡri/ in the US and /dɪˈɡriː/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-GREE.
What does degree mean?
- a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality“a moderate grade of intelligence”“a high level of care is required”
- a specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process“a remarkable degree of frankness”“at what stage are the social sciences?”
- an award conferred by a college or university signifying that the recipient has satisfactorily completed a course of study“he earned his degree at Princeton summa cum laude”
Where does degree come from?
From Middle English degre, borrowed from Old French degré (French: degré), itself from Latin gradus, with the prefix de-.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with degree
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of degree.
Questions about saying degree
How do you pronounce degree?
Say dih-GREE. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈɡri/. In British English it is /dɪˈɡriː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in degree?
Degree has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (GREE). Broken into parts: dih · GREE.
Do Americans and Brits say degree the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈɡri/ and the British form is /dɪˈɡriː/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.