How to pronounce desire
Say it like dih-ZY-er. Desire has three 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 desire. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- ZY
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Desire 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.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of desire
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-ZY-uh.
What does desire mean?
- the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state
- an inclination to want things“a man of many desires”
- something that is desired
- feel or have a desire for; want strongly“I want to go home now”“I want my own room”
- expect and wish“I trust you will behave better from now on”“I hope she understands that she cannot expect a raise”
- express a desire for
Where does desire come from?
From Middle English desir, desire (noun) and desiren (verb), from Old French desirer, desirrer, from Latin dēsīderō (“to long for, desire, feel the want of, miss, regret”), apparently from de- + sidus (in the phrase de sidere, "from the sta
Words that rhyme with desire
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of desire.
Questions about saying desire
How do you pronounce desire?
Say dih-ZY-er. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈzaɪɚ/. In British English it is /dɪˈzaɪə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in desire?
Desire has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZY). Broken into parts: dih · ZY · er.
Is desire 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 /dɪˈzaɪə/ (dih-ZY-uh).