How to pronounce dismay
Say it like dih-SMAY. Dismay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SMAY).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce dismay. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SMAY
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dismay 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.
- SMAYSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ay" in day.
American vs British pronunciation of dismay
American and British speakers say dismay in essentially the same way: /dɪˈsmeɪ/ in the US and /dɪˈsmeɪ/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-SMAY.
What does dismay mean?
- A sudden or complete loss of courage and firmness in the face of trouble or danger; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits“He looked in dismay at the destruction of the town caused by the hurricane.”
- Condition fitted to dismay; ruin.
- To cause to feel apprehension; great sadness, or fear; to deprive of energy.
- To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet.
- To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay.
Where does dismay come from?
Akin to Old High German magan, megin (“power, might, main”), Old English mæġen (“might, main”), Old High German magan, mugan (“to be powerful, able”), Old English magan (“to be able”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with dismay
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dismay.
Questions about saying dismay
How do you pronounce dismay?
Say dih-SMAY. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈsmeɪ/. In British English it is /dɪˈsmeɪ/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dismay?
Dismay has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SMAY). Broken into parts: dih · SMAY.
Do Americans and Brits say dismay the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈsmeɪ/ and the British form is /dɪˈsmeɪ/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.