How to pronounce devour
Say it like dih-VOW-er. Devour has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VOW).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce devour. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- VOW
- er
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Devour 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.
- VOWSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- erKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of devour
- American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2.
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-VOW.
What does devour mean?
- To eat quickly, greedily, hungrily, or ravenously.
- To rapidly destroy, engulf, or lay waste.“The fire was devouring the building.”
- To take in avidly with the intellect or with one's gaze.“She intended to devour the book.”
Where does devour come from?
Inherited from Middle English devouren, from Old French devorer (Modern French dévorer), from Latin dēvorō, from vorō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with devour
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of devour.
Questions about saying devour
How do you pronounce devour?
Say dih-VOW-er. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈvaʊɚ/. In British English it is /dɪˈvaʊ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in devour?
Devour has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VOW). Broken into parts: dih · VOW · er.
Is devour pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. American English uses 3 syllables and British English 2. The British form is /dɪˈvaʊ/ (dih-VOW).