Learn How to Pronounce despair
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How to pronounce:
despair
Definition:
(nou) a state in which all hope is lost or absent (nou) the feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well
Phonetic Transcription:
dɪˈspeə
Examples:
In other words, it is possible to be in despair without despairing.
She sighed with despair.
The sense of despair and hopelessness continues.
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How to perfect your pronunciation of: despair
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Common mistakes of despair pronunciation
- Misplacing the stress: Some learners stress the second syllable, pronouncing it as "des-PAIR" instead of "des-PEAR" (/dɪˈspɛər/ for US, /dɪˈspɛə/ for UK). Tip: Remember that the primary stress is on the second syllable.
- Incorrect vowel sound: Many people pronounce "despair" with a short "e" sound, saying "des-pair" instead of the correct "des-PEAR" (/dɪˈspɛər/ for US, /dɪˈspɛə/ for UK). Tip: Focus on the "air" sound, which is a diphthong.
- Overemphasizing the "d": Some might pronounce "despair" with a heavy "d" sound, making it sound like "deh-spair." This can obscure the correct pronunciation. Tip: Keep the "d" soft and blend it smoothly into the "es."
- Skipping the "s": A common mistake is to pronounce "despair" as "de-pair," omitting the "s" sound. This changes the word entirely. Tip: Ensure you clearly pronounce the "s" to maintain the word's meaning.
- Mispronouncing the final sound: Some learners may pronounce "despair" with a hard "r" at the end, as in "despairr." The correct pronunciation has a softer ending. Tip: Practice ending the word lightly, focusing on the vowel sound.