How to pronounce disastrous
Say it like dih-ZAS-trus. Disastrous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZAS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce disastrous. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- ZAS
- trus
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Disastrous 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.
- ZASSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- trusKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of disastrous
- British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat.
British respelling: dih-ZAH-strus.
What does disastrous mean?
- (of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin“the stock market crashed on Black Friday”“a calamitous defeat”
Where does disastrous come from?
From disaster + -ous, after Middle French desastreux (modern French désastreux; from desastre (modern French désastre, “disaster”; from des- + astre, a calque of Italian disastro) + -eux), itself after Italian disastroso, from disastro + -o
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying disastrous
How do you pronounce disastrous?
Say dih-ZAS-trus. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈzæstrəs/. In British English it is /dɪˈzɑːstrəs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in disastrous?
Disastrous has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (ZAS). Broken into parts: dih · ZAS · trus.
Is disastrous pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. British speakers use the long "ah" vowel of father where Americans use the "a" of cat. The British form is /dɪˈzɑːstrəs/ (dih-ZAH-strus).