2 syllables: dis, turb. Stress on turb.
dis-TURB
/dɪˈstɝb/
disturb is pronounced dis-TURB (/dɪˈstɝb/). It has two syllables (dis-turb), with the stress on "turb". Disturb means to interrupt the peace, order, or normal function of something or someone. It can refer to causing a disruption, unsettling someone, or interfering with a process. The term often implies an unwanted or intrusive action that breaks quiet or stability, whether physically, emotionally, or procedurally.
Disturb means to interrupt the peace, order, or normal function of something or someone. It can refer to causing a disruption, unsettling someone, or interfering with a process. The term often implies an unwanted or intrusive action that breaks quiet or stability, whether physically, emotionally, or procedurally.
"Please do not disturb the neighbors while they’re sleeping."
"The loud construction outside the office can disturb clients and workers alike."
"I don’t want to disturb the meeting, so I’ll wait for a better moment to speak."
You pronounce it as /dɪˈstɜːrb/ in US English and /dɪˈstɜːb/ in UK English when the word ends in a consonant sound; the US form includes a rhotic /r/ before the final /b/, giving an /rb/ cluster. The stress is on the second syllable: di-STURB. Mouth position: start with a short /d/ release, then a stressed /ɜː/ vowel with the tongue mid-high and central, followed by /st/ cluster and a clear /r/ (US) before the final /b/. For careful articulation, avoid munching the /t/ into a /d/ in rapid speech; keep it a light, aspirated /t/ before the /ɜː/.
Common errors: blending /dɪ/ with a reduced vowel like /ɪ/ as in ‘dih-’, misplacing the stressed vowel as /ɜ/ too early, or dropping the /r/ in American speech before /b/. Correction: enunciate the second syllable with a clear /ɜː/ (in US) or /ɜː/ (UK) and ensure the /r/ is realized if you’re speaking rhotic US English. Keep the /t/ crisp and avoid replacing it with a flap or a silent letter; end with /b/ without devoicing. Practice by isolating /ˈstɜːrb/ clusters and then attach to the initial /dɪ/.
In US English, you’ll hear rhotic /r/ before the final /b/, making /dɪˈstɜːrb/. In UK English, rhoticity is often weaker; many speakers realize a non-rhotic vowel before /b/, giving /dɪˈstɜːb/ with a dryer ending. Australian English typically aligns with rhotic tendencies in careful speech, yielding /dɪˈstɜːb/ but with slightly broader vowel qualities and shorter /ɜː/ in some contexts. All share stress on the second syllable; the main distinction rests on rhoticity and vowel quality.
Because of the consonant cluster /st/ after a stressed syllable and the /ɜː/ vowel before /rb/ in some accents. The sequence /stɜːr/ can cause syllable-timing tension, and the /r/ following /ɜː/ in rhotic varieties adds a subtle, quickly articulated colored vowel. Learners often devoice /r/ or soften the /d/ and /t/ into an alveolar blend. Focus on keeping the /t/ distinct, the /ɜː/ rounded with the jaw slightly lowered, and the /r/ clear if your variety is rhotic.
A unique aspect is maintaining the clear, unstressed vowel in the initial /dɪ/ and the precise syllable boundary before /stɜːrb/. The /st/ cluster must be crisp without letting the /t/ soften into a stop that blends with the /ɜː/, which can cause a muddled second syllable. Practice isolating the second syllable /stɜːr/ with a short, tight /t/ release and a rounded, stable vowel before the /r/ in rhotic speech.
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Disturb comes from the Middle English disturben, from Old French desturbé meaning ‘to trouble, distract.’ The root is Latin disturbāre, from dis- ‘apart, asunder’ + turbāre ‘to wind, to shake, to confuse.’ The sense evolved from “to shake apart” in a physical sense to “to upset a state of peace or order.” By the 14th century, disturbs referred to perturbing or interrupting. Over time, the word broadened to apply to mental, social, or procedural disruption. The -b- is not always pronounced in some rapid speech varieties, but historically it’s integral to the spelling and in careful pronunciation you hear the /dɪˈstɜːrb/ or /dɪˈstɜːrb/ forms for US, with a final /r/ that is rhotic in American and non-rhotic in some UK dialects when followed by a vowel in connected speech. First known use attested in Middle English around 14th century, evolving through Old French influence and Latin roots into modern English with the common verb meaning to interrupt or interfere.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "disturb" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "disturb"
-urb sounds
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