How to pronounce derail
Say it like dih-RAYL. Derail has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RAYL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce derail. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- RAYL
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Derail 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.
- RAYLSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of derail
American and British speakers say derail in essentially the same way: /dɪˈreɪl/ in the US and /ˌdiːˈreɪl/ in the UK.
British respelling: dee-RAYL.
What does derail mean?
- Synonym of derailer: A device placed on railway tracks in order to cause a train to derail.“The derail was placed deliberately so that the train would fall into the river.”
- An instance of diverting a conversation or debate from its original topic.
- To cause to come off the tracks.“The train was destroyed when it was derailed by the collision.”
- To come off the tracks.
- To deviate from the previous course or direction.“The conversation derailed once James brought up politics.”
Where does derail come from?
From French dérailler (“to go off the rails”).
Words that rhyme with derail
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of derail.
Questions about saying derail
How do you pronounce derail?
Say dih-RAYL. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈreɪl/. In British English it is /ˌdiːˈreɪl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in derail?
Derail has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (RAYL). Broken into parts: dih · RAYL.
Do Americans and Brits say derail the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈreɪl/ and the British form is /ˌdiːˈreɪl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.