How to pronounce “design”
Design is pronounced /dɪˈzaɪn/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the second one — zaɪn. Below: the syllable split, native audio in both accents, the mistake people actually make with this word, and every individual sound in it explained.
Syllables and stress
Split it into 2 beats. The highlighted syllable is the strong one: say it louder, longer and a touch higher in pitch, and let the others fall away. English is a stress-timed language, so getting zaɪn in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern oO — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“design” sound by sound
“design” is built out of 5 sounds. Say each one on its own first, slowly, then run them together at speed. Every sound links to a full guide with mouth position, the mistake learners make with it, and other words that use it.
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dSame tongue position as /t/ — tip on the ridge behind the upper teeth — but voice the sound and release it without aspiration.
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ɪRelax the tongue slightly lower and further back than for /iː/, keep the lips neutral, and make it short and lax.
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zExactly the /s/ tongue position with voicing added, so the airflow buzzes.
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aɪStart with the mouth open at an /a/-like position and glide up toward /ɪ/, closing the jaw as you go.
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nTouch the tongue tip to the ridge behind the upper teeth, lower the soft palate, and voice the air out through the nose.
Words that rhyme with “design”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Minimal pairs — words one sound away from “design”
Each of these differs from “design” by exactly one sound. If you can say both of a pair and hear the difference, that sound is under control:
Questions people ask about “design”
- How do you pronounce “design”?
- “design” is pronounced /dɪˈzaɪn/, with the stress on the second syllable (zaɪn). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “design”?
- “design” has 2 syllables: dɪ · zaɪn. The stress pattern is oO.
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