2 syllables: de, scribe. Stress on scribe.
dis-KREYEB
/dɪsˈkɹaɪb/
describe is pronounced dis-KREYEB (/dɪsˈkɹaɪb/). It has two syllables (de-scribe), with the stress on "scribe". Describe means to tell or depict in detail, conveying the characteristics, features, or events of someone or something. It involves selecting salient details and presenting them clearly to create a vivid picture in the listener’s or reader’s mind. The word is common in both everyday and formal contexts, often followed by a description or noun clause of what is being described.
Describe means to tell or depict in detail, conveying the characteristics, features, or events of someone or something. It involves selecting salient details and presenting them clearly to create a vivid picture in the listener’s or reader’s mind. The word is common in both everyday and formal contexts, often followed by a description or noun clause of what is being described.
- You may overemphasize the first syllable or detach the /skr/ from the /aɪ/; aim for a tight, fluid /dɪˈskraɪb/ with a quick transition from /ɪ/ to /aɪ/. - Commonly, speakers insert an extra vowel between /s/ and /k/ (sih-kraɪb) or soften the /b/ into a bilabial stop that bleeds into the following sound; keep the final /b/ crisp. - In rapid speech, the /d/ can be elided or softened, yielding /ɪˈskraɪb/; maintain the alveolar start to preserve syllable count and intelligibility. - Practice the /skr/ cluster by starting with a lighter /s/ then a strong /k/ release into /r/; avoid turning /skr/ into /sr/ or /sk/ only. - If you’re a non-native speaker, ensure you’re not replacing /aɪ/ with /iː/ or /eɪ/; keep the diphthong as a clean rise from /a/ to /ɪ/ before the final /b/.
"Can you describe the scene you saw last night?"
"The witness described the suspect as tall and wearing a black jacket."
"She described her research findings in precise, straightforward terms."
Pronounce as /dɪˈskraɪb/. The syllable break is de-SCRIBE, with primary stress on the second syllable. Start with a short, relaxed /d/ followed by the /ɪ/ vowel, then glide into the /ˈskraɪ/ sequence where your tongue moves from a high-front to a mid-back position for /aɪ/. End with /b/. Tip: keep the /skr/ cluster smooth by starting with a light /s/ then a steady /kr/ release into /aɪb/. You’ll hear the rhythm as two syllables, with a sharp emphasis on the second: de-SCRIBE.
Common errors include misplacing stress (e.g., de-SCRIBE vs de-scrIBE), mispronouncing the /skr/ cluster as separate sounds (too abrupt), and misproducing the final /aɪb/ as /iː/ or /ɒ/. To correct: practice the /ˈskraɪ/ chunk as a single, connected cluster, avoid weakening the /skr/ with a vowel insertion, and finish with a clear /b/ after the diphthong. Ensure the /d/ is light and the tongue travels quickly into /ɪ/ before the strong /ˈskraɪ/ onset.
In US, UK, and AU, /dɪˈskraɪb/ is largely similar in core consonants, with minor vowel quality differences. US tends to a sharper /ɪ/ and a slightly tenser /aɪ/; UK may present a marginally longer /ɪ/ and crisper /t/ timing before the /r/ sound in rhotic or non-rhotic contexts; AU generally maintains /dɪˈskraɪb/ with a flatter /ɪ/ and more relaxed final /b/. Across all, the stress remains on the second syllable, but in rapid speech you may hear reduced vowel quality or elision of the /d/ in casual speech.
The difficulty lies in the consonant cluster /skr/ after the initial /d/ and the diphthong /aɪ/ followed by a voiced bilabial /b/. Beginners often substitute /skr/ with separate, simpler sounds or misplace the stress, saying de-SKRIBE or de-scribe. The subtle tongue rebound from /ɪ/ to /aɪ/ plus the rapid transition into /b/ requires precise tongue blade positioning and a tight, controlled breath. Focus on a smooth, continuous release through the /skr/ into the /aɪ/ before final /b/.
A commonly searched nuance is the precise IPA and the stress pattern: /dɪˈskraɪb/. People also wonder about the sequence of articulatory movements from the alveolar /d/ to the velar/alveolar blend /skr/ and how to keep /sk/ from merging with the following /r/ in rapid speech. The tip is to treat /skr/ as a single gusty onset cluster, then glide into /aɪ/ before closing with /b/. This helps with rhythm and natural-sounding speech.
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- US: /dɪˈskraɪb/ with a rhotic accent; slight emphasis on the second syllable, crisp /r/ and denser vowel quality in /ɪ/ and /aɪ/. - UK: /dɪˈskraɪb/ with non-rhotic tendency in some contexts; vowel quality slightly shorter and more clipped; /r/ may be less pronounced in non-rhotic environments. - AU: /dɪˈskraɪb/ similar to US but with a broader vowel coloration and less obtrusive /r/ in casual speech; keep /aɪ/ distinctly prominent. - IPA references: US /dɪˈskɹaɪb/, UK /dɪˈskraɪb/, AU /dɪˈskɹaɪb/ (rhotic vs non-rhotic variances are subtle in connected speech). - Focus on the /skr/ cluster; avoid inserting extra vowels between s-k or s-k-r and the diphthong.
Describe comes from the late Latin describere, formed from de- (down, thoroughly) + scribere (to write). The Latin verb scribere captured the sense of writing something down in detail. Through Old French descrire, it entered Middle English with a meaning close to “to write about” or “to set down in words.” Over time, its sense broadened from the act of writing to communicating in detail by speech as well. The English pronunciation settled into /dɪˈskraɪb/ in many dialects. The evolution reflects a shift from literal act of inscription to figurative act of verbal depiction. First known uses appear in Middle English texts in the 14th century, with the sense of describing events, appearances, or ideas becoming common in scholarly, legal, and literary contexts. Modern usage maintains the core “to explain with detail” sense, often guiding a listener through observable features or narrative developments. The word retains a formal nuance in some contexts (e.g., describe a procedure) but is also a staple of casual conversation (e.g., describe what happened).
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