3 syllables: Dis, hon, ours. Stress on hon.
dis-AH-nur
/dɪˈsɑnɚ/
Dishonours is pronounced dis-AH-nur (/dɪˈsɑnɚ/). It has three syllables (Dis-hon-ours), with the stress on "hon". Dishonours is a verb meaning to bring shame or dishonor upon someone or something, or to fail to honor a pledge or obligation. It describes actions that compromise reputation or integrity, often in a formal or social context. The term can apply to individuals, institutions, or countries when they violate expected standards of conduct or respect.
verbDishonours is a verb meaning to bring shame or dishonor upon someone or something, or to fail to honor a pledge or obligation. It describes actions that compromise reputation or integrity, often in a formal or social context. The term can apply to individuals, institutions, or countries when they violate expected standards of conduct or respect.
"The prince dishonours the crown by rejecting the oath he swore."
"The company dishonours its contract by failing to deliver on time."
"She dishonours her mentor’s trust when she shared confidential information."
Pronounce as dis-HON-ours with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA: US /dɪˈsɒnərz/, UK /dɪˈsɒnəz/, AU /dɪˈsɒnəz/. Start with a short, clipped 'dih' then a strong 'HON' followed by a schwa and a final 'z' or /s/. Listen for the final 'z' buzzing softly in connected speech.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (dis-HON-ours is incorrect) and mispronouncing the second syllable as a long 'nor' instead of a schwa + r. Also, British speakers might maintain a clearer schwa in the second syllable, while US speakers may reduce it more. Correct by keeping the second syllable as a light, unstressed schwa before the final 'z' sound, and ensure /ˈɒn/.”
In US English, the final syllable often carries a clear /ərz/ or /ərz/ with rhotic influence; the 'o' in the second syllable tends toward /ɒ/ or /ɒn/ depending on regional variation. UK English maintains a more centralized or schwa-like /ə/ in the second syllable and uses /z/ at the end; AU follows UK patterns but may be slightly more drawn-out or hissed in rapid speech. Overall rhythm remains iambic-like: dis-HON-ours.
The difficulty lies in the two unstressed vowels around a stressed second syllable and the final voiced fricative /z/. English learners often misplace stress on the first syllable (di-), or replace the schwa in the second syllable with a full vowel. Additionally, the sequence /ˈdɪˈsɒnərz/ can blur in connected speech, so practice isolating the two syllables with clear vowel timing before blending.
This word uniquely challenges learners with the -our/-or spelling that maps to /ə/ or /ɒ/ depending on dialect, and with the suffix -ours that ends with a voiced /z/ in many accents. You might wonder if the second syllable is /’nɔːr/ or /nər/. The answer: it’s a reduced vowel followed by /nər/ or /nz/ in connected speech, with stress on the second syllable and careful voicing of the final /z/.
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The word dishonour(s) derives from Old French deshonor, des- (a negating prefix) + honneur (honor), influenced by Latin honor. In Middle English, the form was dis-, des- plus honor, evolving in the 14th–17th centuries as a direct marker of loss of honor or reputation. The modern spelling dishonour(s) reflects a British English convention with -our pronunciation, though American English often uses dishonor. The first known uses go back to the late medieval period, with Shakespearean texts employing similar forms to denote defamation, injury to reputation, or breach of promise. Over time, the sense broadened to include acts that degrade institutions or states, not just individuals, and the noun form dishonour gained currency to denote a lack of honor more abstractly in political and social discourse.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Dishonours" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Dishonours"
-urs sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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