diz-EYE-ur
/dɪˈzaɪɚ/
Desire is pronounced diz-EYE-ur (/dɪˈzaɪɚ/). Desire (n.) refers to a strong feeling of wanting or wishing for something to happen or to be obtained. It can indicate longing, craving, or a motivated impulse. In everyday use, it spans personal ambitions, romantic yearnings, and aspirational motives, ranging from mild interest to intense passion.
nounDesire (n.) refers to a strong feeling of wanting or wishing for something to happen or to be obtained. It can indicate longing, craving, or a motivated impulse. In everyday use, it spans personal ambitions, romantic yearnings, and aspirational motives, ranging from mild interest to intense passion.
"Her desire to travel the world inspired her to save diligently."
"The charity's desire to help others drove their fundraising efforts."
"There is a lingering desire for change after years of routine."
Desire is pronounced with two syllables: /dɪˈzaɪər/ in US and UK general American; /dɪˈzʰaɪə/ in some transcriptions for AU. The primary stress is on the second syllable: de-SIRE. Start with a short /d/, then a quick /ɪ/ vowel, glide into /ˈzaɪ/ (sounds like 'zai' as in 'zeal' + 'eye'), and finish with a schwa + /r/ in rhotic accents or a lengthened /ə/ in non-rhotic accents. Keep jaw slightly closed, lips relaxed, and end with a light rhotic /ɹ/ or a soft /ə/ depending on accent. Audio curb: use a reference like Cambridge or Forvo to hear natural pronunciation in different contexts.
Common errors include pronouncing it as a one-syllable word (de-zire) by flattening the word, or turning the second syllable into /ri/ (de-SIRE) without the proper /ɪ/ onset. Another frequent mistake is misplacing stress, saying de-SI-re or DÉ-sire. To correct: ensure two distinct syllables /dɪˈzaɪər/, keep the /ˈzaɪ/ cluster strong but not overly prolonged, and finish with a light /ər/ or /ə/ depending on accent. Practice by isolating the /ɪ/ in the first syllable and the /aɪ/ diphthong in the second; use minimal pairs like “die” vs “dye” to feel the vowel difference.
In US English, /dɪˈzaɪər/ includes rhotic /ɹ/ ending in rhotic accents; in many UK varieties, the final /ɹ/ is not pronounced in non-rhotic speakers, giving /dɪˈzaɪə/. Australian pronunciation tends toward /dɪˈzaɪə/ or /dɪˈzʌɪə/ depending on speaker; vowel quality can be slightly more centralized and the final vowel can be realized as a schwa. Consistently, the stress remains on the second syllable across dialects. The crucial feature is the diphthong /aɪ/ in the second syllable and the trailing rhoticity in US, optional in UK, and generally non-rhotic in some AU speech.
The difficulty lies in the diphthong /aɪ/ in the second syllable and the rapid transition from /dɪ/ to /ˈzaɪər/. Non-native speakers often misplace the /ɪ/ and slide into a flat /i/ or mispronounce the /ɪˈzaɪ/ cluster. Additionally, final /ər/ can be challenging for non-rhotic speakers, who may not pronounce the 'r' or may reduce the vowel too much. Focus on maintaining a clean /dɪ/ onset, a precise /ˈzaɪ/ nucleus, and a short, soft ending /ər/ or /ə/ depending on dialect.
A unique aspect is the placement of primary stress on the second syllable in all major dialects, with subtle variations in final vowel quality. The /ɪ/ in the first syllable is short and clipped, while the /aɪ/ in the second syllable is a strong diphthong requiring fronting and rising movement of the tongue. Also, the trailing sound can carry a slight rhotic touch in US speech, whereas UK/AU may fold it into a schwa. Practicing with context sentences helps solidify natural usage.
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Desire comes from Old French desier, which means to wish, long for, or want. This, in turn, derives from Latin desiderare, formed from de- (apart, utterly) and simulac or sidere (to star, to aim at), though the connection to 'star' is more metaphorical in popular etymology. The sense of longing or craving became established in English by the late 13th century, with early uses tied to both physical desire and aspirational longing. By the 16th-17th centuries, the word broadened to denote a strong mental appetite or craving for objects, outcomes, or experiences, rather than only physical need. Over time, literary writers used desire to convey romantic yearning, moral aspirations, and ambitious pursuits, cementing its place in both everyday and elevated discourse. Today, désir in French and desiderare in Latin informed many romance-language cognates, but English retains a distinct emphasis on volitional longing rather than mere need. First known use in English c. 1250–1300, with evolving nuance through Shakespearean and Romantic periods, where desire often signified inner motive and emotional drive more than external reward.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Desire" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Desire"
-ire sounds
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