How to pronounce "demean" in EnglishNoun
dɪˈmiːn
dih·MEEN
Primary stress: MEEN
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No video clips indexed yet for “demean”
We haven’t indexed spoken video clips for this word in our library yet. You can listen to its audio pronunciation, review phonetic IPA, and check definitions below.
Linguistic Pronunciation Masterclass: “demean”
Phonetic mechanics, syllable architecture, and conversational cadence
Syllable Architecture & Stress Distribution
dih
Reduced vowel sound, relaxed jaw, and minimal vocal effort.
MEEN
Tense long vowel with sustained acoustic resonance.
Primary emphasis falls on the second syllable ("MEEN"). Raise your pitch and sustain the vowel length on this syllable while relaxing the surrounding syllables.
Common Pronunciation Traps & Learner Mistakes
The Trap: Avoid pronouncing every vowel with full acoustic weight. Non-native speakers often over-enunciate unstressed vowels.
How Native Speakers Say It: Only give full vowel clarity to the primary stressed syllable. Relax all unstressed vowels into a neutral, low-energy schwa (⁄ə⁄).
Connected Speech & Natural Conversational Flow
When "demean" is followed by a word starting with a vowel, glide the final consonant into the opening vowel (e.g. "demean is" sounds like "demean-iz").
In natural sentences, avoid over-stressing "demean" unless it conveys the core contrast or focal point of your message.
Practice Speaking “demean”
Listen to native pronunciation, record yourself repeating the sentence into your microphone, and receive real-time word-by-word accuracy scoring.
It was, of course, Mrs. Sedley's opinion that her son would demean himself by a marriage with an artist's daughter.
Hear it in context: “demean”
The English word “demean” is transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as dɪˈmiːn (phonetic respelling: dih-MEEN). Phonologically, it consists of 2 syllables (dih · MEEN), with primary lexical stress placed on the 2nd syllable (MEEN). Grammatically, “demean” functions as a verb, noun and acts as an English heteronym where syllable stress shifts between noun (initial-syllable stress) and verb (second-syllable stress) usage. Hear native speakers say demean in context across real video clips
Definition & Meaning: “demean”
- To debase; to lower; to degrade.
- To humble; to humiliate.
- Management; treatment.
- Behavior; conduct; bearing; demeanor.
Example Sentences (2)
- “It was, of course, Mrs. Sedley's opinion that her son would demean himself by a marriage with an artist's daughter.”
- “Pursu'd him streight, in mynd to bene ywroken / Of all the vile demeane, and vsage bad”
Pronounce: “demean”
- Pronunciation:
- dih-MEEN
- Syllables:
- dih · MEEN
- Written Hyphenation:
- de · mean
- Primary stress:
- MEEN
- IPA:
- dɪˈmiːn
- Hear it in context
- demean
Synonyms: “demean”
Hear words related in meaning to “demean” in real video clips:
Words that Rhyme with “demean”
-inWords that Sound Identical (Homophones)
Unique Sound"demean" (⁄dɪˈmiːn⁄) has no true homophones in standard English — there are no other words with identical pronunciation. Unlike sound-alike pairs like there / their or peace / piece, "demean" has a completely distinct phonetic identity.
Frequently asked questions about demean
How do you pronounce “demean”?
“demean” is pronounced ⁄dɪˈmiːn⁄ (dih-MEEN). Listen to the audio pronunciation above to hear it spoken clearly.
How many syllables are in “demean”?
“demean” has 2 syllables: dih · MEEN.
Where is the stress in “demean”?
The primary stress in “demean” is on “MEEN”.
What does “demean” mean?
To debase; to lower; to degrade.
What is the most common pronunciation mistake when saying “demean”?
Avoid pronouncing every vowel with full acoustic weight. Non-native speakers often over-enunciate unstressed vowels. Only give full vowel clarity to the primary stressed syllable. Relax all unstressed vowels into a neutral, low-energy schwa (⁄ə⁄).