How to pronounce divorce
Say it like dih-VORS. Divorce has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VORS).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce divorce. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- dih
- VORS
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Divorce 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.
- VORSSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
American vs British pronunciation of divorce
- Americans pronounce the r after a vowel; most British speakers leave it silent and lengthen the vowel instead.
British respelling: dih-VAWS.
What does divorce mean?
- part; cease or break association with“She disassociated herself from the organization when she found out the identity of the president”
- get a divorce; formally terminate a marriage“The couple divorced after only 6 months”
- the legal dissolution of a marriage
Where does divorce come from?
Derived from Old French divorce, from Latin dīvortium, from dīvertere (“to turn aside”), from dī- (“apart”) + vertere (“to turn”); see verse.
Words that rhyme with divorce
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of divorce.
Questions about saying divorce
How do you pronounce divorce?
Say dih-VORS. The American pronunciation is /dɪˈvɔrs/. In British English it is /dɪˈvɔːs/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in divorce?
Divorce has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (VORS). Broken into parts: dih · VORS.
Is divorce 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 /dɪˈvɔːs/ (dih-VAWS).