The word desire is divided into 3 syllables: de·si·re. Understanding this syllable division is essential for correct pronunciation and spelling.
The phonetic transcription of desire:
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From Middle English desir, desire (noun) and desiren (verb), from Old French desirer, desirrer, from Latin dēsīderō (“to long for, desire, feel the want of, miss, regret”), apparently from de- + sidus (in the phrase de sidere, "from the stars") in connection with astrological hopes. Compare consider and desiderate. Displaced native Old English wilnung (“desire”) and wilnian (“to desire”). Borrowed from Old Occitan dezire. From desi + -re.
Understanding how to break down desire into syllables helps with:
Compare desire with related words to understand syllable patterns:
| Word | Syllables | Division |
|---|---|---|
| desire | 3 | de·si·re |
| dodger | 2 | dodg-er |
| decor | 2 | de-cor |
| digger | 2 | digg-er |
| dickier | 3 | di-cki-er |
Explore syllable divisions of words related to desire:
desk, desalt, descry, desert, design, desist, despot, descale.
desire has 3 syllables: de·si·re. The word is divided into 3 distinct sound units that make up the complete pronunciation.
The stress is on the first syllable: de. This means you emphasize the "de" part when pronouncing desire.
desire is pronounced as /dɪˈzaɪə/ (IPA notation). The syllables are divided as: de·si·re.
Breaking desire into syllables helps with spelling: de·si·re. By pronouncing each syllable separately, you can identify the letters more easily and avoid common spelling mistakes.
Learning syllable division helps with correct pronunciation, improved spelling, better reading fluency, and is useful for poetry and lyric writing where syllable counting matters. It's especially helpful for language learners.