How to pronounce despond
Say it like dih-SPOND. Despond has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPOND).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce despond. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SPOND
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Despond 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.
- SPONDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ah" in father.
American vs British pronunciation of despond
- The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English.
British respelling: dih-SPOND.
What does despond mean?
- To give up the will, courage, or spirit; to become dejected, lose heart.
Where does despond come from?
From Latin dēspondeō (“give up, abandon”), from dē (“from”) + spondeō (“promise”).
Words that rhyme with despond
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of despond.
Questions about saying despond
How do you pronounce despond?
Say dih-SPOND. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈspɑnd/. In British English it is /dɪˈspɒnd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in despond?
Despond has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPOND). Broken into parts: dih · SPOND.
Is despond pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. The short o is rounded in British English (as in "hot"), but open and unrounded in American English. The British form is /dɪˈspɒnd/ (dih-SPOND).