How to pronounce desirable
Say it like dih-ZY-ruh-bul. Desirable has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce desirable. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- ZY
- ruh
- bul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Desirable 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.
- ZYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in time.
- ruhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- bulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of desirable
American and British speakers say desirable in essentially the same way: /dɪˈzaɪrəbəl/ in the US and /dɪˈzaɪrəbəl/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-ZY-ruh-bul.
What does desirable mean?
- worth having or seeking or achieving“a desirable job”“computer with many desirable features”
- worthy of being chosen especially as a spouse“the parents found the girl suitable for their son”
Where does desirable come from?
Morphologically desire + -able.
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying desirable
How do you pronounce desirable?
Say dih-ZY-ruh-bul. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈzaɪrəbəl/. In British English it is /dɪˈzaɪrəbəl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in desirable?
Desirable has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZY). Broken into parts: dih · ZY · ruh · bul.
Do Americans and Brits say desirable the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈzaɪrəbəl/ and the British form is /dɪˈzaɪrəbəl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.