How to pronounce deter
Say it like dih-TUR. Deter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce deter. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- TUR
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Deter 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.
- TURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of deter
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-TUR.
What does deter mean?
- To prevent something from happening.
- To persuade someone not to do something; to discourage.“Their boss deterred them from both taking holidays at the same time, claiming he couldn't manage it all on his own.”
- To distract someone from something.
Where does deter come from?
Borrowed from Latin dēterreō (“deter, discourage”), from de (“from”) + terreō (“to frighten”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with deter
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of deter.
Questions about saying deter
How do you pronounce deter?
Say dih-TUR. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈtɝ/. In British English it is /dɪˈtɜː/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in deter?
Deter has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TUR). Broken into parts: dih · TUR.
Is deter 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 /dɪˈtɜː/ (dih-TUR).