How to pronounce develop
Say it like dih-VEL-up. Develop has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VEL).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce develop. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- VEL
- up
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Stress the second syllable: 'dih-VEL-up'.
Develop 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.
- VELSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- upKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of develop
American and British speakers say develop in essentially the same way: /dɪˈvɛləp/ in the US and /dɪˈvɛləp/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-VEL-up.
What does develop mean?
- make something new, such as a product or a mental or artistic creation“Her company developed a new kind of building material that withstands all kinds of weather”“They developed a new technique”
- work out“We have developed a new theory of evolution”
- gain through experience“I acquired a strong aversion to television”“Children must develop a sense of right and wrong”
Where does develop come from?
Akin to Middle English wlappen (“to wrap, fold”) (Modern English lap (“to wrap, involve, fold”)), Middle English wrappen (“to wrap”), Middle Dutch lappen (“to wrap up, embrace”), dialectal Danish vravle (“to wind, twist”), Middle Low German
Words that rhyme with develop
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of develop.
Questions about saying develop
How do you pronounce develop?
Say dih-VEL-up. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈvɛləp/. In British English it is /dɪˈvɛləp/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in develop?
Develop has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VEL). Broken into parts: dih · VEL · up.
Do Americans and Brits say develop the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈvɛləp/ and the British form is /dɪˈvɛləp/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.