2 syllables: Da, vid. Stress on Da.
DAY-vid
/ˈdeɪvɪd/
David is pronounced DAY-vid (/ˈdeɪvɪd/). It has two syllables (Da-vid), with the stress on "Da". David is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, commonly used across English-speaking cultures. It is typically pronounced with two syllables and a stress on the first: /ˈdeɪ.vɪd/ in General American and most UK varieties. The name carries biblical and historical resonance, but in modern usage it functions as a personal identifier and everyday proper noun in diverse contexts.
nounDavid is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin, commonly used across English-speaking cultures. It is typically pronounced with two syllables and a stress on the first: /ˈdeɪ.vɪd/ in General American and most UK varieties. The name carries biblical and historical resonance, but in modern usage it functions as a personal identifier and everyday proper noun in diverse contexts.
How to Pronounce David
"David introduced himself at the networking event and quickly shared his project details."
"The main character, David, confronts the antagonist in the climactic scene."
"David’s accent softened the consonants, making his name sound warmer in conversation."
Pronunciation: /ˈdeɪ.vɪd/. It has two syllables with primary stress on the first: /ˈdeɪ/ and /vɪd/. Start with a clear /deɪ/ (like ‘day’ but shorter on the final sound), then a light /vɪd/ for the second syllable. Keep the middle vowel from becoming a schwa; aim for a crisp, quick /ɪ/ followed by /d/. If you record yourself, you should hear a steady beat: DAY-vid. (Audio tip: compare with online pronunciations from dictionaries.)
Common mistakes include: 1) Reducing the first syllable to /də/ or /dæ/ without the clear /eɪ/ diphthong; 2) Dropping the /d/ at the end, making it /ˈdeɪ.vɪ/ or /ˈdeɪ.vɪɪ/; 3) Merging the two syllables too quickly so the /v/ blends into /ɪd/. Correction: keep the first syllable as /ˈdeɪ/ with a clear vowel, insert a short boundary before /vɪd/, and pronounce the final /d/ distinctly. Practice with slow tempo then speed up. Listen to native speakers to refine the final /d/ release.
In US, UK, and AU, the first syllable is /ˈdeɪ/ with the same /eɪ/ diphthong; the main difference lies in the consonant clarity and rhoticity. US speakers tend to have a rhotic /ɹ/ in connected speech; the /v/ remains voiced, and the final /d/ is clearly released. UK varieties generally maintain non-rhoticity with strong final /d/; AU pronunciation often falls between, with a slightly more centralized vowel in rapid speech. Overall, the /ˈdeɪ/ diphthong remains near-identical, but the rhythm, vowel quality, and final consonant release can vary subtly by accent.
The difficulty stems from the combination of a clear diphthong in the first syllable and a short, crisp /ɪ/ before a final /d/. English learners often mispronounce /ˈdeɪ/ as /də/ or misplace the tongue for /v/ between vowels, resulting in an /f/ or /v/ in the middle. Another challenge is the final /d/ release, which can be devoiced or lost in rapid speech. Focusing on a crisp /eɪ/ and a separate /d/ can improve accuracy significantly.
David often appears in rapid speech where the first syllable can lead to a slightly reduced vowel in casual talk. Some speakers may reduce the /eɪ/ to a more neutral /ə/ in very informal speech, especially in fast delivery, producing something like /ˈdəvɪd/. To avoid this, practice with deliberate listening to native fast speech and maintain the diphthong clarity, using slow practice to fix muscle memory before returning to normal pace.
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David derives from the Hebrew name Dāwīd, formed from the Hebrew root h-d-w (h-d-wh) meaning 'beloved' or 'friend'. In the Hebrew Bible, David is the second king of Israel, legendary for uniting the tribes and establishing Jerusalem as a political and religious center. The name entered Greek as Dávid and Latin as David, maintaining the two-syllable pattern with stress on the first syllable. In English, the pronunciation crystallized as /ˈdeɪ.vɪd/ in most dialects, with early adoption in medieval and modern Christian naming traditions. Across languages, the form shifts slightly: some languages retain a stronger first syllable stress, while others adapt vowel qualities to local phonotactics. The name has remained remarkably stable in Western naming conventions since the medieval period, with the biblical association continuing to influence its perceived dignity and formality. In contemporary usage, David functions as both a standalone given name and an element in compound names or family surnames, retaining cultural resonance in religious and secular contexts alike.
💡 Etymology tip: Understanding word origins can help you remember pronunciation patterns and recognize related words in the same language family.
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Words that rhyme with "David"
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