How to pronounce destiny
Say it like DES-tuh-nee. Destiny has three 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 destiny. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DES
- tuh
- nee
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Destiny 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.
- tuhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- neeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of destiny
American and British speakers say destiny in essentially the same way: /ˈdɛstəni/ in the US and /ˈdɛstɪni/ in the UK.
British respelling: DES-tih-nee.
What does destiny mean?
- an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
- the ultimate agency regarded as predetermining the course of events (often personified as a woman)“we are helpless in the face of destiny”
- your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)“whatever my fortune may be”“deserved a better fate”
Where does destiny come from?
From Middle English destine et al., from Old French destinee, from Latin dēstinō (English destine).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying destiny
How do you pronounce destiny?
Say DES-tuh-nee. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɛstəni/. In British English it is /ˈdɛstɪni/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in destiny?
Destiny has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DES). Broken into parts: DES · tuh · nee.
Do Americans and Brits say destiny the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɛstəni/ and the British form is /ˈdɛstɪni/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.