How to pronounce dexterous
Say it like DEK-strus. Dexterous has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DEK).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dexterous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DEK
- strus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dexterous pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DEKSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "e" in bed.
- strusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of dexterous
American and British speakers say dexterous in essentially the same way: /ˈdɛkstrəs/ in the US and /ˈdɛkstrəs/ in the UK.
British respelling: DEK-strus.
What does dexterous mean?
- Skillful with one's hands.
- Skillful in some specific thing.
- Agile; flexible; able to move fluidly and gracefully.
Where does dexterous come from?
From Latin dexter (“right, ready”) + -ous.
Words that rhyme with dexterous
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dexterous.
Questions about saying dexterous
How do you pronounce dexterous?
Say DEK-strus. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɛkstrəs/. In British English it is /ˈdɛkstrəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dexterous?
Dexterous has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DEK). Broken into parts: DEK · strus.
Do Americans and Brits say dexterous the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɛkstrəs/ and the British form is /ˈdɛkstrəs/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.