How to pronounce “disease”
Disease is pronounced /dɪˈziːz/. It has 2 syllables, and the beat falls on the second one — ziːz. 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 ziːz in the right place matters more to a listener than getting every vowel perfect.
Stress pattern oO — capital letters mark the stressed beats.
“disease” sound by sound
“disease” 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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iːSpread the lips into a smile, push the front of the tongue high and forward, and hold the sound tense and long.
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zExactly the /s/ tongue position with voicing added, so the airflow buzzes.
Silent letters in “disease”
Letters you write but never say — this is the single biggest reason the word trips people up:
- eThe letter “e”Silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead) — write it, but do not let it reach your mouth.
Words that rhyme with “disease”
Same ending sound from the stressed vowel on — a good way to hear whether you have the vowel right:
Questions people ask about “disease”
- How do you pronounce “disease”?
- “disease” is pronounced /dɪˈziːz/, with the stress on the second syllable (ziːz). Press the US or UK button above to hear it spoken.
- How many syllables are in “disease”?
- “disease” has 2 syllables: dɪ · ziːz. The stress pattern is oO.
- Does “disease” have any silent letters?
- Yes — silent final “e” (it lengthens the vowel instead).
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