How to pronounce doubt
Say it like DOWT. Doubt is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- DOWT
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Tip: Skip the b. Doubt rhymes with out and shout.
Doubt pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DOWTSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
American vs British pronunciation of doubt
American and British speakers say doubt in essentially the same way: /daʊt/ in the US and /daʊt/ in the UK.
British respelling: DOWT.
What does doubt mean?
- the state of being unsure of something
- uncertainty about the truth or factuality or existence of something“the dubiousness of his claim”“there is no question about the validity of the enterprise”
- consider unlikely or have doubts about“I doubt that she will accept his proposal of marriage”
- lack confidence in or have doubts about“I doubt these reports”“I suspect her true motives”
Where does doubt come from?
Displaced Old English twēo (“doubt”) and twēoġan (“to doubt”).
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with doubt
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of doubt.
Questions about saying doubt
How do you pronounce doubt?
Say DOWT. The American pronunciation is /daʊt/. In British English it is /daʊt/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in doubt?
Doubt is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DOWT.
Do Americans and Brits say doubt the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /daʊt/ and the British form is /daʊt/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.