How to pronounce descend
Say it like dih-SEND. Descend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce descend. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SEND
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Descend 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.
- SENDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of descend
American and British speakers say descend in essentially the same way: /dɪˈsɛnd/ in the US and /dɪˈsɛnd/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-SEND.
What does descend mean?
- move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way“The temperature is going down”“The barometer is falling”
- come from; be connected by a relationship of blood, for example“She was descended from an old Italian noble family”“he comes from humble origins”
- do something that one considers to be below one's dignity
Where does descend come from?
The noun is derived from the verb.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with descend
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of descend.
Questions about saying descend
How do you pronounce descend?
Say dih-SEND. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈsɛnd/. In British English it is /dɪˈsɛnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in descend?
Descend has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SEND). Broken into parts: dih · SEND.
Do Americans and Brits say descend the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈsɛnd/ and the British form is /dɪˈsɛnd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.