How to pronounce discourage
Say it like dih-SKUR-rij. Discourage has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce discourage. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SKUR
- rij
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Discourage 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.
- SKURSay this part loudest and longest.
- rijKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
American vs British pronunciation of discourage
American and British speakers say discourage in essentially the same way: /dɪˈskɜrɪdʒ/ in the US and /dɪˈskʌrɪdʒ/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-SKUHR-ij.
What does discourage mean?
- try to prevent; show opposition to“We should discourage this practice among our youth”
- deprive of courage or hope; take away hope from; cause to feel discouraged
- advise or counsel in terms of someone's behavior“I warned him not to go too far”“I warn you against false assumptions”
Where does discourage come from?
From Middle French descourager (modern French décourager), from Old French descouragier, from des- and corage.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Opposite meaning
Words that rhyme with discourage
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of discourage.
Questions about saying discourage
How do you pronounce discourage?
Say dih-SKUR-rij. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈskɜrɪdʒ/. In British English it is /dɪˈskʌrɪdʒ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in discourage?
Discourage has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SKUR). Broken into parts: dih · SKUR · rij.
Do Americans and Brits say discourage the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈskɜrɪdʒ/ and the British form is /dɪˈskʌrɪdʒ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.