How to pronounce despair
Say it like dih-SPAIR. Despair has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPAIR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce despair. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SPAIR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Despair 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.
- SPAIRSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
American vs British pronunciation of despair
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-SPAIR.
What does despair mean?
- a state in which all hope is lost or absent“in the depths of despair”“they were rescued from despair at the last minute”
- the feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well“they moaned in despair and dismay”“one harsh word would send her into the depths of despair”
- abandon hope; give up hope; lose heart“Don't despair--help is on the way!”
Where does despair come from?
From Middle English dispeir, from Anglo-Norman despeir and Old French desperer (from Latin dēspērō, dēspērāre), or desesperer, from des- (“dis-”) + esperer (“hope”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with despair
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of despair.
Questions about saying despair
How do you pronounce despair?
Say dih-SPAIR. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈspɛr/. In British English it is /dɪˈspɛə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in despair?
Despair has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPAIR). Broken into parts: dih · SPAIR.
Is despair 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 /dɪˈspɛə/ (dih-SPAIR).