How to pronounce denial
Say it like dih-NY-ul. Denial has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce denial. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- NY
- ul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Denial 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.
- NYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- ulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of denial
American and British speakers say denial in essentially the same way: /dɪˈnaɪəl/ in the US and /dɪˈnaɪəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-NY-ul.
What does denial mean?
- the act of refusing to comply (as with a request)“it resulted in a complete denial of his privileges”
- the act of asserting that something alleged is not true
- (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that denies painful thoughts
Where does denial come from?
From deny + -al.
Words that rhyme with denial
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of denial.
Questions about saying denial
How do you pronounce denial?
Say dih-NY-ul. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈnaɪəl/. In British English it is /dɪˈnaɪəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in denial?
Denial has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (NY). Broken into parts: dih · NY · ul.
Do Americans and Brits say denial the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈnaɪəl/ and the British form is /dɪˈnaɪəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.