How to pronounce destroy
Say it like dih-STROY. Destroy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STROY).
- dih
- STROY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Destroy 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.
- STROYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "oy" in boy.
American vs British pronunciation of destroy
American and British speakers say destroy in essentially the same way: /dɪˈstrɔɪ/ in the US and /dɪˈstrɔɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-STROY.
What does destroy mean?
- do away with, cause the destruction or undoing of“The fire destroyed the house”
- destroy completely; damage irreparably“You have ruined my car by pouring sugar in the tank!”“The tears ruined her make-up”
- defeat soundly and humiliatingly“The home team demolished the visitors”
Where does destroy come from?
From Middle English destroyen, from Old French destruire, Vulgar Latin *destrugō, from Classical Latin dēstruō, from dē- (“un-, de-”) + struō (“to build”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with destroy
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of destroy.
Questions about saying destroy
How do you pronounce destroy?
Say dih-STROY. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈstrɔɪ/. In British English it is /dɪˈstrɔɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in destroy?
Destroy has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STROY). Broken into parts: dih · STROY.
Do Americans and Brits say destroy the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈstrɔɪ/ and the British form is /dɪˈstrɔɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.