How to pronounce disperse
Say it like dih-SPURS. Disperse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPURS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce disperse. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- SPURS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Disperse 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.
- SPURSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
American vs British pronunciation of disperse
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-SPURS.
What does disperse mean?
- To scatter in different directions.“The Jews are dispersed among all nations.”
- To break up and disappear; to dissipate.
- To disseminate.
- Scattered or spread out.
Where does disperse come from?
From Middle French disperser, from Latin dispersus, past participle of dispergō (“to scatter abroad, disperse”), from dis- (“apart”) + spargō (“to scatter”); see sparse.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with disperse
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of disperse.
Questions about saying disperse
How do you pronounce disperse?
Say dih-SPURS. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈspɝs/. In British English it is /dɪˈspɜːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in disperse?
Disperse has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (SPURS). Broken into parts: dih · SPURS.
Is disperse 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 /dɪˈspɜːs/ (dih-SPURS).