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Pronunciation

How to pronounce “different”

“different” is pronounced /ˈdɪfɹənt/ (DIF-ruhnt), and /ˈdɪfəɹənt/ is also accepted — 2 syllables, stressed on “dɪ”.
The sound

Say “different” in 2 beats

Say it like this

different

/ˈdɪfɹənt/

The voice you hear here is American; a British voice is available in the app's settings.

2 beats
  1. dɪdɪstress
  2. fɹəntfɹənt
IPA (American)
/ˈdɪfɹənt/
IPA (British)
/ˈdɪfɹənt/
Also accepted
/ˈdɪfəɹənt/
Respelling
DIF-ruhnt
Syllables
2 — DꞮ-fɹənt
Stress
Stress the first syllable: DꞮ-fɹənt. “dɪ” is longer, louder and a step higher; the other syllable falls away from it.
Part of speech
adjective
Difficulty
Beginner — most learners get this on the first take
Watch out

Where “different” goes wrong

  • Often heard

    “dif-FER-ent”

    the stress is first and the middle vowel is usually dropped entirely

Meaning

What “different” means

  1. adjective

    unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

    “took different approaches to the problem”

  2. adjective

    distinctly separate from the first

    “that's another (or different) issue altogether”

  3. adjective

    differing from all others; not ordinary

    “advertising that strives continually to be different”

Say it in a sentence

“The second recipe gave a completely different result.”
Sound by sound

The sounds inside this word

7 sounds, in the order you say them
ddɪshort iffɹrəschwanntt

Each sound has its own page: where the tongue goes, what it is usually confused with, and words to drill it on.

Questions

“different”, answered

How do you pronounce “different”?

“different” is pronounced /ˈdɪfɹənt/ (DIF-ruhnt), and /ˈdɪfəɹənt/ is also accepted — 2 syllables, stressed on “dɪ”. Build it as DꞮ-fɹənt, then run the first syllable a little longer than the rest and let the others reduce.

How many syllables does “different” have?

2: dɪ · fɹənt. The beat lands on the first, “dɪ”. Read letter by letter it looks like 3 (dif-FER-ent), and that careful version is not wrong — but ordinary speech runs it to 2.

Is “different” /ˈdɪfɹənt/ or /ˈdɪfəɹənt/?

Both. /ˈdɪfɹənt/ is the form dictionaries list first (DIF-ruhnt). The three-syllable form is used in careful or formal speech.

What does “different” mean?

As an adjective: unlike in nature or quality or form or degree For example: “took different approaches to the problem” It carries 2 other senses as well — all of them said the same way.

Where is the stress in “different”?

Stress the first syllable: DꞮ-fɹənt. “dɪ” is longer, louder and a step higher; the other syllable falls away from it.

Practise this word

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