How to pronounce dud
Say it like DUHD. Dud is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress.
- DUHD
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Dud pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- DUHDSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "u" in cup.
American vs British pronunciation of dud
American and British speakers say dud in essentially the same way: /dʌd/ in the US and /dʌd/ in the UK.
British respelling: DUHD.
What does dud mean?
- A device or machine that is useless because it does not work properly or has failed to work, such as a bomb, or explosive projectile.
- A failure of any kind.“I got stuck with a seatmate who was a conversational dud.”
- A loser; an unlucky person.
- Useless; failing; ineffective.
- to swindle; to deceive or rip off.
Where does dud come from?
From Middle English dudde (“cloak, mantle, kind of cloth; ragged clothing or cloth”), from Old English *dudda (attested only as personal name Dudda, part of modern English Dudley), akin to Old Norse dúði (“swaddling clothes”), Low German dudel.
Similar and opposite words
Similar meaning
Words that rhyme with dud
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of dud.
Questions about saying dud
How do you pronounce dud?
Say DUHD. The American pronunciation is /dʌd/. In British English it is /dʌd/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in dud?
Dud is a single syllable, so the whole word carries the stress. Broken into parts: DUHD.
Do Americans and Brits say dud the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /dʌd/ and the British form is /dʌd/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.