How to pronounce desired
Say it like dih-ZY-erd. Desired 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 desired. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- ZY
- erd
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Desired 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.
- erdKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of desired
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-ZY-ud.
What does desired mean?
- wanted intensely“the child could no longer resist taking one of the craved cookies”“it produced the desired effect”
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with desired
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of desired.
Questions about saying desired
How do you pronounce desired?
Say dih-ZY-erd. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈzaɪɚd/. In British English it is /dɪˈzaɪəd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in desired?
Desired has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZY). Broken into parts: dih · ZY · erd.
Is desired 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 /dɪˈzaɪəd/ (dih-ZY-ud).