2 syllables: dis, like. Stress on like.
dis-LEYEK
/dɪˈslaɪk/
dislike is pronounced dis-LEYEK (/dɪˈslaɪk/). It has two syllables (dis-like), with the stress on "like". Dislike is an English verb or noun meaning to feel aversion or distaste for someone or something, or to have negative feelings toward it. In verb form, it typically appears as disliking or disliked, indicating present or past action or preference. The term conveys a mild to moderate negative sentiment rather than strong hatred, and is common in everyday speech and writing.
Dislike is an English verb or noun meaning to feel aversion or distaste for someone or something, or to have negative feelings toward it. In verb form, it typically appears as disliking or disliked, indicating present or past action or preference. The term conveys a mild to moderate negative sentiment rather than strong hatred, and is common in everyday speech and writing.
"I dislike spicy food, so I usually choose milder dishes."
"She disliked the idea of moving to a new city but agreed to try it."
"They dislike crowds, so they prefer quiet weekends."
Dislike is pronounced /dɪsˈlaɪk/ in US, UK, and AU English. The stress is on the second syllable: dis-LIKE. Start with a short /d/ burst, then /ɪ/ (as in 'bit'), move to the cluster /s/ before the long diphthong /aɪ/ (as in 'high'), then finish with /k/. Mouth position: lips relaxed, tongue tip lightly touching the alveolar ridge for /d/ and /s/, tongue high-mid for /aɪ/, with final velar /k/ closure. In connected speech, you’ll often hear a short, crisp /d/ release leading into /ɪs/ prior to /laɪk/. Quick practice: dis- (dɪs) + like (laɪk) with strong cohesion between /ɪ/ and /s/.
Common mistakes: (1) Placing primary stress on the first syllable (díslike) makes it sound like a different pattern; ensure stress on /laɪk/. (2) Slurring the /d/ and /s/ into a weak cluster; practice a clear /d/ release followed by /s/. (3) Mispronouncing /laɪk/ as /læk/ or /leɪk/ with incorrect vowel height; keep the diphthong /aɪ/ wide and rising. Correction tips: exaggerate the /d/ release, keep the /s/ crisp, and articulate /laɪk/ as a smooth, long diphthong ending in /k/. Use minimal pairs like /dɪsˈlaɪk/ vs /dɪsˈleɪk/ to feel the difference in vowel quality. Finally, avoid adding an extra syllable or a schwa between syllables by maintaining a tight, non-stressed middle /s/.
Across US/UK/AU, the pronunciation is broadly /dɪsˈlaɪk/ with a rhotic R absent in dislike (non-rhotic by default). In US English, /ɪ/ is somewhat lax, and the /laɪk/ portion can be more fronted; in UK English, /ɪ/ may be a slightly closer value and /laɪk/ can be crisper with less vowel length contrast. Australian English is similar to UK but often with a flatter /ɪ/ and a slightly broader /aɪ/ quality; some speakers may have a lightly centralized vowel in rapid speech. All share a clear /d/ onset and a tight /k/ closure; the main differences lie in resonance and vowel quality, not the consonant sequence.
Dislike challenges your ability to segment a two-syllable word into crisp consonant clusters: /d/ at the start, /s/ adjacent to /ɪ/ in the first syllable, and the high-front diphthong /aɪ/ before the final /k/. The primary difficulty is the abrupt /d/ + /s/ sequence and producing a distinct /laɪ/ diphthong that transitions cleanly into /k/. You also want the stress to land on the second syllable without letting the vowel in /ɪ/ or /l/ blur. Practicing precise, separate bursts for /d/ and /s/ and a strong /aɪ/ will improve accuracy.
A unique feature of dislie is the clear boundary between the /s/ and /l/ sounds in the onset of the second syllable. The sequence /dɪsˈlaɪk/ requires a precise glottal or alveolar stop release into the /s/ before the /l/ onset, especially in careful speech. Keeping the /l/ light and avoiding an intrusive /j/ or /w/ into the /laɪ/ ensures a clean second syllable. The emphasis on the diphthong /aɪ/ before /k/ is a key distinguishing factor that separates it from near-homographs.
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Dislike comes from the Old English word dislikian, formed from dis- (a negative prefix) and likian, meaning to please or like. The sense evolved from “to be displeasing” to the modern “to not like.” In Middle English, forms like disliken and dislike appeared, reflecting a separable prefix and verb. The prefix dis- signals reversal, while like originates from Proto-Germanic *lukaną and Proto-Indo-European *leu-, related to pleasing or choosing. By Early Modern English, the spelling and pronunciation stabilized into dislike. The word has parallels in many languages with a similar negative prefix attached to a verb meaning to like, indicating aversion or opposition. First known usage attested in the 14th–15th centuries, with gradual semantic refinement toward everyday sense of mild disapproval rather than absolute hatred. In contemporary usage, dislike functions across verb, noun, and even adjective forms (disliked). The word remains highly productive in modern discourse, often used for expressing preference or mild protest without strong emotion. Etymology note: the association with “liking” predates the modern sense of preference and is tied to social judgments about compatibility, taste, and approval that have shaped English negative constructions for centuries.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "dislike" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "dislike"
-ike sounds
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