How to pronounce dismal
Say it like DIZ-mul. Dismal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DIZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dismal. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DIZ
- mul
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dismal pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DIZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- mulKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of dismal
American and British speakers say dismal in essentially the same way: /ˈdɪzməl/ in the US and /ˈdɪzməl/ in the UK.
British respelling: DIZ-mul.
What does dismal mean?
- Disastrous, calamitous.
- Disappointingly inadequate.“He received a dismal compensation.”
- Causing despair; gloomy and bleak.“The storm made for a dismal weekend”
- A dreary swamp in eastern North Carolina or Virginia in the United States.
Where does dismal come from?
From Middle English dismal, dismale, from Anglo-Norman dismal, from Old French (li) dis mals (“(the) bad days”), from Medieval Latin diēs malī (“bad days”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with dismal
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dismal.
Questions about saying dismal
How do you pronounce dismal?
Say DIZ-mul. The American pronunciation is /ˈdɪzməl/. In British English it is /ˈdɪzməl/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dismal?
Dismal has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DIZ). Broken into parts: DIZ · mul.
Do Americans and Brits say dismal the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdɪzməl/ and the British form is /ˈdɪzməl/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.