How to pronounce describe
Say it like dih-SKRYBE. Describe has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKRYBE).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce describe. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SKRYBE
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Describe 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.
- SKRYBESay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of describe
American and British speakers say describe in essentially the same way: /dɪˈskraɪb/ in the US and /dɪˈskraɪb/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-SKRYBE.
What does describe mean?
- give a description of“He drew an elaborate plan of attack”
- to give an account or representation of in words“Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental”
- make a mark or lines on a surface“draw a line”“trace the outline of a figure in the sand”
Where does describe come from?
From Middle English descriven, from Old French descrivre, from Latin dēscrībō (“to copy off, transcribe, sketch off, describe in painting or writing”), from dē (“off”) + scrībō (“write”); see scribe and shrive.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with describe
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of describe.
Questions about saying describe
How do you pronounce describe?
Say dih-SKRYBE. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈskraɪb/. In British English it is /dɪˈskraɪb/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in describe?
Describe has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKRYBE). Broken into parts: dih · SKRYBE.
Do Americans and Brits say describe the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈskraɪb/ and the British form is /dɪˈskraɪb/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.