How to pronounce downside
Say it like DOWN-syde. Downside has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOWN).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce downside. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- DOWN
- syde
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Downside pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DOWNSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ow" in now.
- sydeGive this part a little weight. The vowel is the "i" in time.
American vs British pronunciation of downside
American and British speakers say downside in essentially the same way: /ˈdaʊnˌsaɪd/ in the US and /ˈdaʊnˌsaɪd/ in the UK.
British respelling: DOWN-syde.
What does downside mean?
- a negative aspect of something that is generally positive“there is a downside even to motherhood”
Where does downside come from?
Compound of down + side.
Questions about saying downside
How do you pronounce downside?
Say DOWN-syde. The American pronunciation is /ˈdaʊnˌsaɪd/. In British English it is /ˈdaʊnˌsaɪd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in downside?
Downside has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (DOWN). Broken into parts: DOWN · syde.
Do Americans and Brits say downside the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈdaʊnˌsaɪd/ and the British form is /ˈdaʊnˌsaɪd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.