How to pronounce deserve
Say it like dih-ZURV. Deserve has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZURV).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce deserve. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- ZURV
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Deserve 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.
- ZURVSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of deserve
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-ZURV.
What does deserve mean?
- be worthy or deserving“You deserve a promotion after all the hard work you have done”
Where does deserve come from?
From Middle English deserven, from Old French deservir, from Latin dēserviō, from dē- + serviō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with deserve
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of deserve.
Questions about saying deserve
How do you pronounce deserve?
Say dih-ZURV. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈzɝv/. In British English it is /dɪˈzɜːv/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in deserve?
Deserve has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZURV). Broken into parts: dih · ZURV.
Is deserve 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 /dɪˈzɜːv/ (dih-ZURV).