How to pronounce disbelief
Say it like dis-bih-LEEF. Disbelief has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LEEF).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce disbelief. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dis
- bih
- LEEF
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Disbelief pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- disGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- bihKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- LEEFSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of disbelief
American and British speakers say disbelief in essentially the same way: /ˌdɪsbɪˈlif/ in the US and /dɪsbɪˈliːf/ in the UK.
British respelling: dis-bih-LEEF.
What does disbelief mean?
- An unpreparedness, unwillingness, or an inability to believe that something is the case.“She cried out in disbelief on hearing that terrorists had crashed an airplane into the World Trade Center in New York City.”
- Astonishment.“I stared in disbelief at the Grand Canyon.”
- The loss or abandonment of a belief; the cessation of belief.
Where does disbelief come from?
From dis- + belief.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with disbelief
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of disbelief.
Questions about saying disbelief
How do you pronounce disbelief?
Say dis-bih-LEEF. The American pronunciation is /ˌdɪsbɪˈlif/. In British English it is /dɪsbɪˈliːf/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in disbelief?
Disbelief has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the third one (LEEF). Broken into parts: dis · bih · LEEF.
Do Americans and Brits say disbelief the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˌdɪsbɪˈlif/ and the British form is /dɪsbɪˈliːf/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.