How to pronounce department
Say it like dih-PART-munt. Department has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PART).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce department. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- PART
- munt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Department 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.
- PARTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
- muntKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of department
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-PAHT-munt.
What does department mean?
- a specialized division of a large organization“you'll find it in the hardware department”“she got a job in the historical section of the Treasury”
- the territorial and administrative division of some countries (such as France)
- a specialized sphere of knowledge“baking is not my department”“his work established a new department of literature”
Where does department come from?
From Middle English departement (“ceasing, end”), from Middle French département.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with department
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of department.
Questions about saying department
How do you pronounce department?
Say dih-PART-munt. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈpɑrtmənt/. In British English it is /dɪˈpɑːtmənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in department?
Department has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (PART). Broken into parts: dih · PART · munt.
Is department pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /dɪˈpɑːtmənt/ (dih-PAHT-munt).