How to pronounce desperately
Say it like DES-puh-rut-lee. Desperately has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DES).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce desperately. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DES
- puh
- rut
- lee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Desperately pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DESSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- puhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- rutKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- leeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of desperately
American and British speakers say desperately in essentially the same way: /ˈdɛspərətli/ in the US and /ˈdɛspərətli/ in the UK.
British respelling: DES-puh-rut-lee.
What does desperately mean?
- with great urgency“health care reform is needed urgently”“the soil desperately needed potash”
- in intense despair“the child clung desperately to her mother”
Where does desperately come from?
From desperate + -ly.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying desperately
How do you pronounce desperately?
Say DES-puh-rut-lee. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɛspərətli/. In British English it is /ˈdɛspərətli/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in desperately?
Desperately has four syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DES). Broken into parts: DES · puh · rut · lee.
Do Americans and Brits say desperately the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɛspərətli/ and the British form is /ˈdɛspərətli/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.