How to pronounce deserved
Say it like dih-ZURVD. Deserved has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZURVD).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce deserved. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- ZURVD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Deserved 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.
- ZURVDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of deserved
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-ZURVD.
What does deserved mean?
- properly deserved“a merited success”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with deserved
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of deserved.
Questions about saying deserved
How do you pronounce deserved?
Say dih-ZURVD. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈzɝvd/. In British English it is /dɪˈzɜːvd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in deserved?
Deserved has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZURVD). Broken into parts: dih · ZURVD.
Is deserved 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 /dɪˈzɜːvd/ (dih-ZURVD).