How to pronounce disturbance
Say it like dih-STUR-buns. Disturbance has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STUR).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce disturbance. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- STUR
- buns
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Disturbance 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.
- STURSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ur" in nurse.
- bunsKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of disturbance
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-STUR-buns.
What does disturbance mean?
- activity that is a malfunction, intrusion, or interruption“the term `distress' connotes some degree of perturbation and emotional upset”“he looked around for the source of the disturbance”
- an unhappy and worried mental state“there was too much anger and disturbance”“she didn't realize the upset she caused me”
- a disorderly outburst or tumult“they were amazed by the furious disturbance they had caused”
Where does disturbance come from?
From Middle English disturbaunce, from Old French destorbance, destourbance, from destourber (“disturb”), from Latin disturbō.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Questions about saying disturbance
How do you pronounce disturbance?
Say dih-STUR-buns. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈstɝbəns/. In British English it is /dɪˈstɜːbəns/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in disturbance?
Disturbance has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (STUR). Broken into parts: dih · STUR · buns.
Is disturbance 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 /dɪˈstɜːbəns/ (dih-STUR-buns).