How to pronounce distribute
Say it like dih-STRIB-yoot. Distribute has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STRIB).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce distribute. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- STRIB
- yoot
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Distribute 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.
- STRIBSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "i" in sit.
- yootKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "oo" in food.
American vs British pronunciation of distribute
American and British speakers say distribute in essentially the same way: /dɪˈstrɪbjut/ in the US and /dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/ in the UK.
British respelling: dih-STRIB-yoot.
What does distribute mean?
- administer or bestow, as in small portions“administer critical remarks to everyone present”“dole out some money”
- distribute or disperse widely“The invaders spread their language all over the country”
- make available“The publisher wants to distribute the book in Asia”
Where does distribute come from?
From Latin distributus, past participle of distribuere (“to divide, distribute”), from dis- (“apart”) + tribuere (“to give, impart”); see tribute.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with distribute
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of distribute.
Questions about saying distribute
How do you pronounce distribute?
Say dih-STRIB-yoot. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈstrɪbjut/. In British English it is /dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in distribute?
Distribute has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STRIB). Broken into parts: dih · STRIB · yoot.
Do Americans and Brits say distribute the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dɪˈstrɪbjut/ and the British form is /dɪˈstrɪbjuːt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.