How to pronounce disfigure
Say it like dis-FIG-yer. Disfigure has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FIG).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce disfigure. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dis
- FIG
- yer
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Disfigure pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- disKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- FIGSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- yerKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "er" in butter.
American vs British pronunciation of disfigure
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dis-FIG-uh.
What does disfigure mean?
- to irreversibly damage the shape or structure of something, negatively affecting its appearance or functionality without completely destroying it.“His face was disfigured by a terrible fire many years ago, leaving deep scars across his crooked nose.”
Where does disfigure come from?
From Middle English disfiguren, from Anglo-Norman desfigurer.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with disfigure
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of disfigure.
Questions about saying disfigure
How do you pronounce disfigure?
Say dis-FIG-yer. The American pronunciation is /dɪsˈfɪɡjɚ/. In British English it is /dɪsˈfɪɡə/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in disfigure?
Disfigure has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (FIG). Broken into parts: dis · FIG · yer.
Is disfigure pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead. The British form is /dɪsˈfɪɡə/ (dis-FIG-uh).