How to pronounce different
Say it like DIF-uh-runt. Different has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DIF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce different. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DIF
- uh
- runt
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Different pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DIFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- runtKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of different
American and British speakers say different in essentially the same way: /ˈdɪfərənt/ in the US and /ˈdɪfərənt/ in the UK.
British respelling: DIF-uh-runt.
What does different mean?
- unlike in nature or quality or form or degree“took different approaches to the problem”“came to a different conclusion”
- distinctly separate from the first“that's another (or different) issue altogether”
- differing from all others; not ordinary“advertising that strives continually to be different”“this new music is certainly different but I don't really like it”
Where does different come from?
From Middle English different, from Old French different, from Latin differēns, present active participle of differō (“to differ”).
Similar and opposite words
Opposite meaning
Questions about saying different
How do you pronounce different?
Say DIF-uh-runt. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɪfərənt/. In British English it is /ˈdɪfərənt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in different?
Different has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DIF). Broken into parts: DIF · uh · runt.
Do Americans and Brits say different the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɪfərənt/ and the British form is /ˈdɪfərənt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.